PM's Mum Signs Austerity Cuts Petition

David Cameron's mother has signed a petition against cuts to "invaluable" children's services driven by the Government's austerity measures.

Mary Cameron, 81, has joined the fight to stop dozens of children's centres being closed by the Conservative-run Oxfordshire County Council – which covers Mr Cameron's own Witney constituency.

Both Mrs Cameron and the Prime Minister's aunt, Clare Currie, have signed to try to stop the council from shutting down 44 centres in the county as part of annual budget cuts.

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Mrs Cameron, a retired magistrate who lives in Berkshire, told the Oxford Mail: "Where children's centres are needed, they are invaluable."

Conservative council leader Ian Hudspeth has said the cuts, which will save around £8m, were a result of the 40% Government had slashed from its funding since 2010.

Jill Huish, leader of Save Oxfordshire's Children's Centres, said: "It shows how deep austerity is cutting our most vulnerable when even David Cameron's mum has had enough."

She told the newspaper: "David Cameron's constituents in Witney must feel so let down that every other speech from their MP seems to involve looking after families, yet he will stand by while his local children’s centres are closed down by the Tory-controlled authority.

"You couldn't make it up."

The Prime Minister had previously written to Mr Hudspeth warning over cuts to museums, libraries and day centres but was told the measures were as a result of the Government cuts to local council funding.

Including Mr Cameron's mother and aunt, 10,000 people have signed the petition ahead of a meeting to agree the local authority budget next week.