KIRKLEES Council's plan for care homes is based on lies, an MP told a meeting.

Batley and Spen MP Mike Wood was a guest speaker at a meeting organised by the Unison public sector union and Rage, a national organisation resisting home closures.

The council is reviewing the future of five care homes - Claremont House, Heckmondwike; Knowle Park House and Ings Grove House, both in Mirfield; Moorlands Grange, Netherton; and Oakes Villa at Lindley.

In a £4m plan, the homes in Mirfield will close and the others will become day care or resource centres.

The meeting brought together representatives and relatives of people in care homes, staff in homes, concerned councillors and representatives from Rage.

Mr Wood said: "The council's present policy is based on two lies. The first is that wholesale closure was a way of recycling money into supporting people in their own homes.

"The second lie is that the private sector is cheaper and better at running homes.

"Until the council stops saying they will consult people and then don't and saying they will involve councillors when they mean councillors from one party we know they are moving towards closing all 17 homes, of which only 11 remain.

"The end result is a lot of unhappiness, illness and, in some cases, premature death for people in homes, for whom Kirklees has a duty of care."

Related stories and messageboards