Vulnerable "easy targets" for Tory cuts

11.16.39am GMT Wed 10th Feb 2010

Fiona Whelan

Worried Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats fear the elderly and vulnerable across the county have become easy targets for the Tories trying to balance their books.

They claim more plans to cut more than £20 million from adult social care in the next two years will force some elderly residents to give up their independence.

The cuts will reduce the size of social care packages and prevent some elderly residents staying in their own homes.

The Lib Dems have promised £2 million worth of help for the vulnerable over the next two years in their alternative budget to try to offset the worst effects of the damaging Tory cuts.

Fiona Whelan, the Lib Dems lead member for Adult Social Care said: "Year on year the Tories have made serious cuts to the adult social care budget, affecting the most vulnerable people in our community. This cannot be allowed to continue.

"This is false economy. Cutting social care packages means more and more elderly people will not be able to live independently in their own homes, increasing the need for residential places and leading to higher costs for the taxpayer. The county council is looking to the voluntary sector to pick up what it will no longer provide.

"Our alternative budget goes some way to mitigating the worst effects of these cuts. But we are seeing year after year a Tory administration that cannot balance its budget and penalising those that need our help the most."