Newcastle Labour

Lib Dems in Newcastle have not only signed up to the Tory-led Government's unfair cuts, they have let Newcastle down by their mismanagement of the City Council.

The Northern Rock Tower is a luxury office building in Gosforth, designed to accommodate the bankers who gambled - and then lost - with Northern Rock. Lib Dem Council bosses bought the Tower by borrowing tens of millions of pounds - but are now slashing wardens and and claim there is no money for housing. Lib Dems have also agreed to demolish social housing in the West End of Newcastle - but at the same time chose to fund a brand new 4* hotel in the City Centre.

Libraries at risk?
Now they have plans to turn 8 of the city's libraries into self-service points, with no staff - but won't say which libraries are to be affected until AFTER the local elections in May. And although they're cutting 655 jobs at the Council, and closing day centres for adults with learning disabilities and older people, they've found the money to give the Chief Executive a pay rise and buy a new limousine for the Lord Mayor.

Getting Newcastle working again
Newcastle's Labour Leader Nick Forbes told us: 'The Lib Dems can't be trusted to take the right decisions in the Council. Local Labour campaigners like Matthew Myers in Fenham and Simon Bird in Denton tell me that the lack of housing is a huge issue for residents but they are demolishing social housing while bailing out private developers. Linda Hobson is fighting hard in Westerhope to save the day centres, and Labour councillors voted against the plans at the council meeting. Youth unemployment is rising, and I'm working with Catherine McKinnell MP to increase the numbers of apprenticeships. Newcastle needs effective leadership to deal with the challenges facing the city, and only Labour is a voice for you and your community in these tough times.'