Liberal Democrats oppose budget cuts that target the elderly.

12.38.13am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 7th Jan 2007

How will she manage on her own now?

Cllr Stephanie Eaton, Leader of the Tower Hamlets Liberal Democrats group, today described the Labour Party's budget as "An outrage". The budget proposes cutting a service which currently provides shopping and housework assistance to older people.

Cllr Eaton stated "I was astonished to read that the budget options which go to Cabinet on Wednesday propose to cut this service which is currently provided to around 800 older people. The help is only two hours a week of shopping and cleaning assistance. The cost of this is £28.40 per person, which is a small price to pay to enable our older people to remain in their own homes living a healthy and dignified independent life."

The Council is suggesting that anyone who is able to survive without the service will have the help withdrawn. Only people who are at "critical" or "substantial" risk will be permitted to receive the benefit. In an example of stunning arrogance the report states: "For service users who would no longer receive a service under these proposals, information would be provided about those agencies on the Council's list of approved home care providers from whom replacement services could if desired be purchased by the individual". In other words the report is acknowledging that the need for this service will not disappear, but that our older people - many of whom are the poorest and most isolated members of our community - will have to pay for this basic social care.

As Cllr Eaton commented: "This Council seems to be targeting the most vulnerable people in our community with cuts in critical services. Yet there are elements of the Town Hall apparatus which have barely been touched by cuts in the budget. For example, the communications budget is being cut by a mere £8000 in 2007/8 from a total budget of over £2 million. This is a clear indication of the priorities of the Labour-run Council. They won't reduce the budget for their propaganda, but they are quite prepared to leave old people to fend for themselves. It is an absolute disgrace."

Tower Hamlets Liberal Democrats will be opposing the Budget proposals at Cabinet and at full Council on February 28.