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Vaizey slams Burnham

03.03.09 | Benedicte Page

Shadow culture minister Ed Vaizey has accused his opposite number Andy Burnham of "ignoring his responsibilities as secretary of state" by refusing to intervene in the library closures in the Wirral.

Burnham last week told the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) that he "is not minded at this stage to investigate further or intervene" in Wirral, where the council intends to close 11 libraries, nearly half its service.

Vaizey said: "Andy Burnham's refusal to take action in the Wirral effectively renders the 1964 Public Libraries Act meaningless. While it is local authorities' responsibility to provide libraries, the Act very clearly lays responsibility for ensuring a good service at the culture secretary's door. It Andy Burnham is not prepared to intervene when library provision is slashed in a local authority such as the Wirral, it is clear that he is ignoring his responsibilities as secretary of state, which in the process renders any sense of libraries being a statutory requirement for local authorities meaningless."

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By Shirley Burnham

I am thrilled that Mr Vaizey would have used his powers under the Act to call in the Wirral if he were the Secretary of State. Were he in Mr Burnham's shoes, he would also be receiving many letters from the folk in Swindon, with a similar request. We trust that Mr Burnham will be moved to action in the case of Swindon.

I would be very interested to understand why Mr Burnham has not intervened in the Wirral. No-one seems to have asked him this.

Thu, 27/01/2011 - 13:24
By Andrew Preston

Well, Burnham did intervene, and a lot of good came out of that enquiry. Meanwhile, 18 months down the way.... if there is one thing that Vaizey runs away from at the speed of light it's any mention of the Museums and Libraries Act, and his respnsibilies. All he does whenever he opens his mouth is ......

"I thinks it's important to/that/for....blah, blah, etc...".., . and off he wanders on another political evasion. Even if you voted Conservative doesn't it induce the urge to puke?

Thu, 27/01/2011 - 13:24

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