Leaflet's claim that Labour saved libraries is 'a bit rich'

CAMPAIGNERS OUTRAGED, SAYING IT WAS COUNCIL THAT THREATENED TO CLOSE THEM

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

NOTTINGHAM Labour has been accused of "peddling propaganda" after claiming it had saved city libraries from being closed - even though it was the party's plan to shut them in the first place.

After approving library savings in the March 2024 budget that followed its effective declaration of bankruptcy, the city council confirmed in May 2024 that it was planning to close down four libraries.

The Labour-run authority's original plans would have seen all four sites shut, but Radford-Lenton will now become a "centralised stock hub" with a scaled-down library and the council then confirmed it will hand over Aspley, Basford and Bilborough for another company to run.

Leaflets have been sent out in areas of Nottingham from local Labour city councillors, which includes a page listing "Labour wins for Nottingham". One such achievement reads: "Labour council saves libraries under threat of closure."

But Nottingham Liberal Democrat campaigns coordinator Lloydie James Lloyd slammed the library claim as "insulting".

He said: "There were huge campaigns against the closure of libraries, and as Lib Dems, we backed these excellent campaigns.