Youth workers in Cameron's constituency strike

Youth workers in the Prime Minister's constituency went on strike today in protest at public sector spending cuts.

Members of Unite in Banbury, Oxfordshire, were taking industrial action all day as part of a campaign against cuts the union said will lead to the loss of 80 jobs of workers who care for hundreds of vulnerable young people across the county.

The union said David Cameron recently visited a youth centre in Witney to discuss the aftermath of the riots but was turning a blind eye to the "devastation" of the area's youth service because of spending cuts by the county council.

Doug Nicholls, national officer of Unite, said: "Youth workers in Oxfordshire will be taking this day of action with a heavy heart, but are determined to challenge the council's short-sighted decision to dismantle its top-class youth service.

"Many workers will be taking action for the first time. Our members work with some of the most marginalised young people in our society - those living in poverty, fighting loneliness and struggling to engage. The jobs they do make a difference to young lives.

"The Prime Minister had the audacity to speak from his so-called favourite youth club in Witney last week in the wake of the UK riots, but failed to defend the county's dedicated team of youth workers.

"Young people have been given a very rough ride by this Government and now Oxfordshire County Council wants to slash its youth service budget when it already ranks a dismal 104th out of 118 local authorities for net expenditure on youth provision."

PA