Tory Blunder exposed as Cllr True Attacks Lib Dems For Budget 'Cut' made by his own Administration in 2005

12.51.00pm GMT Sat 24th Feb 2007

The Leader of the Conservative Group on Richmond Council has spectacularly blundered into attacking the new Liberal Democrat council for a budget 'cut' that was in fact made by the last Tory administration in 2005, of which he was deputy leader.

Cllr True has issued a press statement attacking what he describes as "cutting £350,000 from the domestic care budget for older people" describing it as "frankly an insult". What he failed to realise is the budget reduction of £350,000 to the domestic care budget, to which he refers, is the consequence of a decision taken on 5th December 2005 by the then Conservative Cabinet, to outsource the domiciliary care service. Councillor True as the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance was present at the meeting on 5th December 2005 and voted for the proposal. The Cabinet report on this item from the 5th December 2005 clearly shows a budget reduction of £350,000 in 2007/8 and 2008/9, which he now describes as a "cut" and "frankly insulting". The new Liberal Democrat administration elected in May 2006 had no part in the decision whatsoever.

Commenting on this blunder, Deputy Leader of the Council Stephen Knight said: "Cllr True must have been asleep at that Cabinet Meeting back in December 2005. Either that or he clearly forgot that his administration had made the decision to outsource the domiciliary care service and that this would produce savings over the next 3 years. Either way it is clear that Councillor True had little understanding of the decisions that his administration was making. Perhaps next time he wants to score cheap points by attacking us he will check his facts first!"