Lib Dem's fury as Tories score cheap points on "most vulnerable"

9.40.41am GMT Tue 16th Feb 2010

Geoff Heathcock

Leading Liberal Democrat Geoff Heathcock has attacked the Tories over their tombstone poster campaign accusing them of using the country's most vulnerable citizens to score cheap political points.

Councillor Heathcock, Lib Dem lead on health care and a funeral director, claims he his appalled by the insensitivity of the Conservatives' campaign which uses the image of the tombstone to attack Labour's social care plan.

He expressed his anger just hours after Shadow Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley admitted that he failed to tell David Cameron about his cross-party talks on social care.

Cllr Heathcock called for the Conservatives to withdraw the campaign immediately.

"The use of a headstone in such sensitive circumstances is frankly beyond crass; it is absolutely beneath contempt," he said. "Words fail me as to the anger I feel not only as a councillor who has devoted most of my political career to argue for a better deal for the elderly, but also in more recent years as a funeral director who has to deal with the aftermath of someone losing their loved one.

"I find it incredible that the Conservatives have chosen such a sensitive issue to score cheap political points. These are our most vulnerable citizens, the very people we should be trying to help. Yet the Tories see them as just a tool to win the general election.

"This type of behaviour seriously damages elderly people and the whole issue of their care. They should be totally ashamed of themselves. This campaign should be withdrawn immediately."

The campaign comes as Tories on Cambridgeshire County Council plan to cut more than £20 million from adult social care in the next two years.

The cuts will reduce the size of social care packages and prevent some elderly residents staying in their own homes.