Dreadful MP of the Week: Glenda Jackson

I’m most grateful to Selena Gray for publicising Glenda Jackson’s response to the notion that volunteers might run a library that Brent council has threatened to close. I don’t think, however, Selena goes nearly far enough.

Firstly, it cannot be pointed out too often that any library closures are the responsibility of councils, not central government. The latter may not send as much money to the former as it did in previous years but the decisions on what to spend the money councils do have are entirely a matter for the councils themselves. If your local library or swimming pool closes it’s because your local council has decided to spend money elsewhere.

Hark at Glenda however and her appraisal of what libraries do:

“For young people who are looking for work, are very confused by the benefits system and have no computer access of their own, the local library is the first port of call, because the equipment and the information are there, and highly skilled and highly trained people can help them.”