SENIOR Labour figures in Bolton are fighting back over proposed library closures.

The town’s three MPs are writing to Secretary of State for Local Government Eric Pickles to demand the £400,000 needed to save Bolton’s libraries.

The five earmarked for closure are in Astley Bridge, Oxford Grove in Halliwell, Highfield in Farnworth, Heaton, and Castle Hill in Tonge Moor.

Yasmin Qureshi MP said: “The blame for the loss of any of Bolton’s libraries lies squarely with the Tory-led Government.”

Bolton Council chiefs have come under increasing pressure from the Save Bolton’s Libraries Campaign, and have faced criticism from all sides as they prepare to close the libraries.

But local Labour chief and council leader Cllr Cliff Morris also laid the blame at the feet of the Conservative and Lib Dem coalition. He said: “I don’t want to see any of these cuts.

“The budget has been cut by £60 million and we have to find these savings.

“It is down to the Coalition Government who are doing everything too quick and too deep.”

A public meeting on the future of Bolton’s libraries takes place at Bolton Central Library on Thursday.

Leaders from the three main political parties and the leader of the Save Bolton Libraries Campaign will debate the planned closures of five libraries in front of a “Question Time”-style audience.

Cllr Morris added: “I’ll be there to listen and to answer people’s questions but I still have to make the budget savings.

“We will do our best to find those savings and have a comprehensive library service afterwards.”

And criticising Tory and Lib Dem councillors who have attacked his party over the libraries, Cllr Morris added: “It does frustrate me, because they voted for the budget in February, well, they abstained, but that was as good as voting for it.

“It is their Government that has imposed these cuts too quickly and now they are saying it is everyone else’s fault.

“Our MPs must do what’s right for them, but I’d sooner they ask for £60 million, because there are other services being cut as well as libraries.

“But at the end of the day, I have got to make my budget savings and everyone has to be in this together. I can’t put those library savings onto another service.”

The Bolton Council consultation on libraries ends on September 16.

To have your say, go to bolton.gov.uk/libraries The public meeting will be held at Bolton Central Library lecture theatre on Thursday, September 15, at 7pm.