Corbyn attacks Tories over children's centre closures

Speaking at an event in Manchester, Corbyn highlighted the issue as one of a number of "unfair" ways in which working people have been affected by cuts implemented since Labour lost power in 2010.

He said that Prime Minister Theresa May had "sat alongside" David Cameron in government for six years.

"She was with him when they introduced the bedroom tax," he said.

"What's remotely fair about the bedroom tax? What was fair about racking up tuition fees? Or about taking benefits away from people with disabilities?

"Or about closing Sure Start [children's] centres? Or starving schools of cash? Or opening up the NHS to be feasted on by profiteers?"

Earlier this year, analysis by CYP Now revealed that there has been a reduction of more than 1,000 in the number of official children's centres in England with 2,501 as of February, compared with 3,631 in 2010.

The government has said it will hold a consultation on the future of children's centres, which it first announced in July 2015, but despite recommitting to this in January, it is yet to launch.

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said: "Children's centres are a vital source of support for both children and parents, and particularly for those more vulnerable families, and yet over recent years, we have seen a consistent reduction in services due to a chronic lack of adequate funding.

"We hope that, in an election dominated by Brexit, the future of children's centres, and the investment needed to ensure their survival in the long term, does not fall by the wayside.