Nia Griffith MP has slammed plans by the Plaid-led County Council to privatise adult social services, which have been spelled out in a letter to Council staff.
Speaking after a meeting with Unison reps, this week, Nia Griffith MP said, “This letter is really worrying as it shows that Plaid – led Carmarthenshire County Council is trying to sneak in the privatisation of adult social services by the back door, without even telling fellow councillors. We all know that private companies want to make money, and with that in mind they cut costs , including wages and cut back staffing levels to a bare minimum, putting at risk the standards of care of some of the most vulnerable people in our County. We have seen some examples in England where things have got so bad in privatised services that councils have had to take over again. I will be campaigning vigorously with Labour councillors and trade union members to stop Plaid dragging us down this route.”
Cllr Jeff Edmunds, Leader of the Labour Group on Carmarthenshire County Council added,
“We will fight this every step of the way. Not only is Plaid letting down the people who rely on our social services, by handing their care over to the private sector, where profits count for more than people, but once we lose our Council-provided services, we’ll just be blackmailed into ever higher prices by the private sector, and the council tax payer will foot the bill.”