Lib Dem ‘reality check’ unearths six broken Tory election promises
Just days after the Conservative-led Hampshire County Council announced plans to slash public services across the region, analysis by the Basingstoke Liberal Democrats has revealed that the Tories have already broken a number of the 'pledges for Hampshire's Future' that they made during the recent election.
Ahead of the County Council elections earlier this year, the Hampshire County Conservatives made six promises about spending on public services that they now appear to have discarded:
- Keep Council Tax low and service quality high
- Maintain roads and pavements to high standards
- Make recycling easier
- Work with the NHS and partners to help make Hampshire healthier
- Invest in Hampshire's country parks
- Keep our libraries and extend their services.
Councillor Gavin James, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Basingstoke and Deane Council, said: "It's a case of 'here we go again'. The Conservatives have shown once again that they can't be trusted to look after our public services.
"It's taken them just four months to rip up a long list of promises and u-turn on important investment commitments in transport, health and education.
"They promised to keep service quality high, but have instead announced a package of deeply damaging cuts what will leave a trail of devastation throughout the county.
"The promised to maintain roads and pavements to high standards, but instead we have to put up with more potholes and crumbling pavements.
"They promised to make recycling easier, but have instead failed to coordinate services across the county or make any meaningful improvements.
"They promised to make Hampshire healthier, but propose instead to cut back on sports and leisure funding and reduce support for the elderly and vulnerable.
"They promised to invest in our country parks, but instead plan to lay off staff and expect already over-stretched volunteers to pick up the slack.
"They promised to keep our libraries and extend their services, but instead want to cut opening hours and reduce staffing.
"As the full extent of the Tory's spending cuts begins to emerge, Hampshire residents are being forced to fend for themselves by a party that just doesn't seem to care about the damage that its broken promises are causing to local people."