Jim Knight MP today celebrated Labour opening over 2,900 Sure Start centres by reaffirming their importance to communities.

The Children’s Minister said: “We’ve way exceeded our target for this stage and this is really exciting for all of these communities because of the range of services children’s centres are offering.

“Support to families and parents to our youngest children in their earliest years, making sure they have the best possible start in their lives regardless of whether or not they come from an advantaged or disadvantaged home. It’s a universal service that is really important to our communities and something we can be really proud of.

“It also underlines the difference between ourselves and our Tory opponents. When we came into power in 1997 no one was guaranteed a nursery place anywhere in the country. We now have guaranteed nursery places for three and four-year-olds and we’re extending the amount of guaranteed time from 12 to 15 hours a week.

“Indeed, the Conservatives have pledged to cut this spending on Sure Start, they’re going to cut £200 million from the Sure Start centres.

“So for those people who care about this support for families and care about giving our children the next possible start in life, they should think seriously about the priorities that the Tories have shown by wanting to cut these services and vote Labour on May 1st as the only party that wants to put families at the heart of their policies.”