BLACKPOOL Labout Party has sunk lower with their tactics regarding the care homes scandal. Now they want Citizen readers to think my campaign was really a plan to insult the integrity of staff in private rest homes.

I challenge Mr Crossley to attend a public meeting. Let's have a serious debate about care standards and how Blackpool should proceed. Four of the eight council homes are finished, two were saved by the campaign.

Labour leaders and Citizen readers know our support for the co-operative plan was a last-chance bid to save two more homes. Would Mr Crossley help us to salvage something positive out of this sorry six months?

Let us establish an ethical and independent system to measure the levels of care provided in ALL Fylde Coast care homes. The integrity of those homes taking part would be open for all to see. The public should be able to trust a report on each home.

It must include the current ratio of staff hours worked to the number of residents. The experience and qualifications of all the management and staff. Also details of the staff turnover in the last couple of years.

How about it Blackpool Labour Party, or do you want to resort to gutter politics?

Steven Bate

Chairman Blackpool Liberal Democrats

Ashfield Road

Blackpool