Assuming councils have to cut some services, where does the axe fall?
An article on The Guardian website written by the Conservative leader of Oxfordshire Council, Keith Mitchell, suggests libraries.
However, the bookish county has risen up, with its literati adding their outrage to the general disapproval.
Understandable, too. Morally, libraries should not shut, particularly as UK literacy rates continue to be a concern.
As a side issue, is not the running of them by volunteers one of the prime functions of a Big Society?
However, back to the point: cuts there will be. And Mitchell says it is better to cut library services than social care, although he would do well to remember that in February his council did vote for "savings" of £119m in adult care over four years.
Nevertheless, it was encouraging to read an article by someone who has a bit of reputation for verbalising what the right of the Tory party thinks actually speaking up for social care.
He ends the article: "Everyone involved in social care has a critical role to raise the public profile of social care. I am afraid the village shop, school, pub and library will always score highly with electors because of their visibility while the importance of social care will remain invisible to most electors until they or their loved ones need it."
Convinced? Let me know below.
Picture: Rex Features
