Right policy?

Published: 20 January, 2011

• I AM dismayed by Alan Templeton’s extraordinary suggestion that Camden’s Labour administration is “to the right” of Eric Pickles (Library policy hits poor people, January 13).

The accusation levelled at Labour councillors – that they want fewer libraries – is totally without foundation and dismissing the consultation process seems unfair and unhelpful.

Camden, like many Labour and indeed non-Labour-run councils around the country, is struggling to mitigate the potentially devastating effects of swingeing cuts inflicted by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat government.  

Surely the fairest thing for councils to do is to engage local people in decisions about their services as Camden is seeking to do.  

Most bizarre of all is Mr Templeton’s assertion that Camden’s Labour councillors are actively seeking to deprive young people of the support they need and wilfully impeding social mobility. 

Let’s remember it is the government that is removing the Educa­tional Mainten­ance Allowance, slashing university funding  while trebling fees, and cancelling the rebuilding of schools.  

In blaming local authorities for forthcoming cuts we are falling into the government’s great “localisation” trap and letting ministers off the hook. 

DEBBIE MOSS, WC1