In a stunning display of political hypocrisy, Labour councillors in Ealing voted against a motion to save nine of the borough’s vital children’s centres at Full Council on 10th June, with the cabinet choosing a "No Vote" and then axed the nine centres the following day.
The nine children centres that are being closed include, Hathaway Children’s Centre in Pitshanger, Windmill Children’s Centre in Greenford, and Northolt Park Children Centre.
Cllr Julian Gallant, who challenged the closures in Full Council, exposed the process as fundamentally flawed: “In eight out of the nine centres facing closure, the council didn’t even bother to show up in person to consult parents and staff. That’s not engagement. It’s abandonment.”
He added: “Buried deep in the council’s own report is the truth: this is about money. While Labour hides behind jargon like ‘strategy’ and ‘efficiency’, what we’re really seeing is a shameful closer of Children Centres on Labour’s watch. A Labour Council and a Labour Government.”
The decision to axe these centres for children is a political choice. Ealing Labour had an opportunity to stand with local families. Instead, they turned their backs.
