David Cameron’s mother wins award for campaign against cuts his government brought in
Mary Cameron signed a petition opposed to the closure of a local children's centre
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
David Cameron's mother has won an award for campaigning against the closure of a children's centre hit by cuts his government brought in.
Mary Cameron was crowned Mother Knows Best of the Year for her 10,000-strong petition opposing her local Conservative council shutting the facility in Oxfordshire, where she used to volunteer.
The centre was forced to close after a spending review under the former prime minister left councils in England facing a loss of 24 per cent in central government funding by 2020.
Ms Cameron, a retired magistrate now in her eighties, signed a petition a year ago against plans to shut 44 children’s centres in and around her son’s former constituency of Witney.
Confirming her local Chieveley and Area Children’s Centre in Berkshire had had shut its doors, she said at the time: "I am very sad that it is being closed down but if there’s not enough money to pay for it things have to go.
“I enjoy it very much and have been going there for a year and drive families around occasionally.
“I don’t really know what can be done really as I’ve just heard about it. If it closes down, then I shan’t be volunteering because there will be no one to volunteer for.”
The centre was closed by Tory-run West Berkshire Council to save £300,000, despite catering for about 670 children under the age of five.
It offered free courses in first aid training for babies, general childcare and healthy eating advice.
The Oldie of the Year Awards, held at London's Simpson's-in-the-Strand, also paid tribute to actress Vanessa Redgrave and Labour peer Lord Dubs, who both won Campaigner of the Year awards for their work supporting unaccompanied child refugees arriving in Britain.
American senator Bernie Sanders was given the Should-Have-Been of the Year award after he rose to global prominence as the challenger to Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Additional reporting PA
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments