Where Is The Fairness In Durham County Council's Closure Of Care Homes?

We have heard a lot about 'fairness' from Gordon Brown in the past few days. However, I don't think the residents of seven residential care homes for the elderly in County Durham have seen a great deal of fairness from Gordon Brown's Labour Party. The elderly and frail residents have been told that Labour controlled Durham County Council is 'consulting' on its plans to close seven care homes in County Durham.

Two of the care homes marked down for closure, Manor House in Annfield Plain and Stanfield House in Stanley. Local residents are very angry about the proposed closure and local residents have every right to be angry. The residents of the care homes are distressed by the news and the families and friends of the residents are very much opposed to the moves to close the care homes. The highly skilled staff who work in the care homes are understandably upset by the news.

Indeed, this morning's Journal carries the news that a local Labour activist in Lanchester has hit out at his own party's plans to close the care homes and has threatened to quit the Labour Party over the plan.

As a society, we should be judged on how we treat the elderly, as we should be judged on how we treat the weakest and most vulnerable members of society. There is no fairness in this closure of care homes. It impacts some of the most vulnerable people in society and the Labour Party and Durham County Council should hang their heads in shame for treating the elderly in this way.