LIBRARY protestors taking part in Saturday’s ‘day of action’ were buoyed by the news that the issue of Swindon’s future library provision has caught the attention of politicians in Westminster.

The Shadow Culture Secretary, Labour MP Kevin Brennan, has tabled a written question formally calling on the Department for Culture Media and Sport to review the council’s plans.

Mr Brennan has asked Karen Bradley, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, to make an assessment of whether the council's recently announced proposal for providing a library service are sufficiently comprehensive so as to comply with their legal obligations.

In 1964, the Public Libraries and Museums Act made it a statutory responsibility for each local authority to provide a 'comprehensive and efficient library service for all persons.’

While Swindon Borough Council's plans received some national media attention earlier this year, this latest intervention marks the first time that the cuts have reached the national political stage.

The move comes just days after the Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, Nick Poole, also called on the Government to step in.

In an unprecedented intervention, Mr Poole said: "We believe that rather than entering into the process of consultation without prejudice, a highly prejudicial decision was made concerning budget allocation to the library service and that the end result is a service that has been hollowed-out to the point at which it can no longer be considered comprehensive and efficient.

"We are fully aware of the challenges confronting local authorities across the country and are committed to working with councils to secure the best outcome.

"The proposals put forward by Swindon Council are the most damaging we have seen to any library service anywhere in the country."

Justin Tomlinson, the MP for North Swindon and the former chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Libraries, has also expressed concerns on the issue.

Writing in the Adver last week, he said: "Whilst the council has to face difficult decisions, I personally would have cut other budgets before libraries."

Mr Tomlinson has given his backing to the establishment of a trust to secure the future of as many branch libraries as possible.

It is understood that he will be arranging a meeting between representatives from Swindon Borough Council and the libraries minister this week to discuss the feasibility of such a model.