A FORMER top-ranking cabinet MP paid a visit to Swindon last night, to speak out against cuts to children’s services.

Caroline Flint, shadow secretary of state for Communities and Local Government, joined Labour leader Derique Montaut on the steps of the Civic Offices, before setting off on a tour of several Sure Start children’s centres. She told The Adver: “I’m here to see how cuts by the Tory-led government are directly affecting frontline services.

“People aren’t just losing their jobs, they’re losing the services they rely on.

“The idea is we’re all in this together, and we’re finding here in Swindon that’s not the case.”

The 49-year-old was a former minister under the Labour regime but resigned in 2009, claiming Gordon Brown treated her like “female window dressing”.

Coun Montaut (Central) said the town’s Sure Start centres are set to see cuts of 20 per cent, on average - but some would suffer even deeper dips.

But Coun Andy Harrison (Lib Dem, Penhill) said Labour was simply “scaremongering”.