Angry council leader hits back as minister praises Dudley MP for 'saving' clinic and library
A Black Country MP was praised by a government minister for 'saving' an under-threat clinic and library from closure - sparking anger from a council leader who said the statement was untrue.
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock praised Dudley MP Sonia Kumar for saving the health centre and library building at Ladies Walk in Sedgley, during a debate in the Commons yesterday (Tuesday).
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Mr Kinnock, who is son of former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, said: "I pay tribute to my honourable friend for saving the Ladies Walk health centre in her constituency, which the Conservatives were trying to shut."
Miss Kumar then posted the clip on social media, adding: "I was delighted to be congratulated in the Commons by Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care, for my work — alongside our brilliant community — to help save Ladies Walk NHS Health Centre and Sedgley Library after they were threatened with closure by the Conservative-led council.
"Ladies Walk is a lifeline for so many families in Dudley. Protecting it was the right thing to do, and I’m proud our community stood together."
However, Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said it was totally untrue that the Conservatives wanted to close the building, adding it was local councillors and officers who saved the centre by negotiating a new lease.
The situation arose because a 25-year lease taken out when the complex opened in 2001 was due to expire next year, with the landlord demanding a substantial rent increase.
Councillor Harley said: "At no point was my administration remotely interested in closing Ladies Walk.
"Officers and the three ward councillors have worked tirelessly to explore several options. These were: renew the lease, look for alternative sites or even purchase the building outright.
“Despite the quite amateurish attempts of the MP to claim credit for doing absolutely nothing, I will praise my officer team and all the Sedgley councillors.
"Despite not seeing eye to eye and being from different political parties, the three of them have worked across the board to ensure the council either renews a long-term lease or purchases the building outright.
"What they have not done is attempt to claim credit for something they haven’t done.
"The MP should withdraw those remarks as there was never any notion of closing the building and for her to share those words does her no credit at all.
“I suppose the good thing from those comments is that people can see that Kinnock junior is as big a windbag as his father was.”
The row comes weeks after Health Secretary Wes Streeting recorded a video message congratulating Miss Kumar on her work keeping the Ladies Walk Centre open for the local community of Sedgley.
Mr Streeting said: “Sonia, thanks to your campaigning, with all the petitions, the public meetings, all of the campaign events that you’ve done, you’ve finally shamed the Conservative council into action.”
Miss Kumar said afterwards: "It has been a privilege to stand with the people of Sedgley in ensuring that the Ladies Walk Centre, a vital hub for healthcare, learning and community life, stays open and thriving.
"This result belongs to everyone who signed the petition, attended meetings, spoke up and made their voices heard. I will keep working to make sure our public services are protected, accessible and accountable.”
The council has now agreed a long-term lease on the building which will ensure it remains open for the foreseeable future.
