I'm late reporting this, but library campaigners in the Wirral have won! In a total volte-face, Wirral council has caved in and withdrawn their plan to close eleven public libraries. Credit is due to local campaigners, to Unison, the library workers' trade union and to CILIP, whose Chief Executive Bob McKee made a pivotal intervention at the enquiry.
This will give a boost to the discussion next week at CILIP's Members Day and AGM. As all political parties vie with one another to show how deep they would cut public services, Peter Beauchamp is leading a workshop to help create a CILIP General Election Manifesto.
See reactions to the Wirral victory from Laura Swaffield, Rachel Cooke, Bob McKee and the CILIP press release
