THE inevitable decision was taken last night to close two council-run old people's homes in Bolton.

Councillors once again distanced themselves from responsibility for confining the residents and staff of Stocks Park and Lever Edge House to an uncertain future, laying the blame fairly on Government policy.

True, cheaper elderly care can be bought in subsidised private nursing homes and the Government can impose budget-capping controls on any local authority that fails to embrace commercial opportunities.

But if running old folk's homes is an expense Bolton Council can no longer justify, what future is there for the ten council-owned homes that remain?

With good money to be made by looking after the elderly, there will always be enough private homes to meet demand. So, using the Town Hall's own economic excuses, should the council not be looking to close all their homes, as other authorities have done, to save millions of pounds a year and divert funds to other areas of need or even reduce council tax bills?

Either we are living in a harsh commercial world, or we are not. As things stand, however, the victims of last night's decision, the elderly and their carers, feel betrayed and frightened. And worst of all, they don't really know who to blame. That's politics.

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