It’s Full Council meeting in Haringey. The main thing of note for me was a sycophantic question from a Labour councillor to the (Labour) Executive Member for Social Services asking her to congratulate herself on an ‘event’ for listening to older residents and what they want at the Ally Pally.

Sick making really – as this was the night before Labour would officially take the decision to close two of the last remaining residential care homes for the elderly that serve Haringey borough. They had tried to close them around four years ago and the campaign with relatives and residents had seen them off.

Haringey had promised then to use the money from the sale of another elderly home to fund the improvements that would be necessary to bring the two homes under threat up to new required standards.

Seemingly, Haringey couldn’t remember their promises. But we all did. The relatives of residents of the home were broken hearted and trying so hard to save them. Tomorrow night the curtain will fall. Even though there are deputations from relatives – I know Labour in Haringey. Whatever they may say about ‘choice’ in old age, they’ve already made the decision. Of course people want to remain independent as long as possible – but there does come a time for some when they need more care than can be given in their own homes.