Cabinet Ministers Andy Burnham and Jack Straw joined West Lancashire MP, Rosie Cooper, on Saturday 27^th March to launch Labour’s pledge to protect frontline services.

The pledge launch took place as Prime Minister Gordon Brown launched Labour five election pledges in Nottingham.  Ministers joined Labour supporters and community activists at events around the country to focus on the Labour’s five election pledges:

·        Secure the recovery

·        Raise family living standards

·        Build a high tech economy

·        Protect frontline services

·        Strengthen fairness in communities

West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper said:

“It was a real privilege to welcome Jack and Andy to West Lancashire to launch the election pledge to protect frontline services.

“Here in West Lancashire residents are already experiencing what it means to have a Conservative administration.  They hoard £23 million of council taxpayer’s money and want to build plush new offices for themselves yet they refuse to support free swimming for under-16s, refuse to fund free rail travel for pensioners, and got rid of the Sports Development team.

“Andy and Jack both talked about how Labour will protect frontline investment in policing, schools, childcare and the NHS with a new guarantee of cancer test results within a week.”

North West Regional Minister, Phil Woolas said:

“These pledges will provide the much needed support to help people in our region through these tough times.  The Tories have opposed these measures and the benefits they provide for local families.

“I know that when people I talk to take a long, hard look at the Tories and their disastrous plans for our communities and our country, and compare them with Labour’s they can see the stark choice that they have.”