A POLITICAL row has broken out after an MP was accused of a publicity stunt over a doomed council care home.

In a mailshot delivered to homes in Weardale North West Durham Labour MP Pat Glass said she was standing up for the area and had “fought hard” for local residents who objected to the closure of Newtown House, in Stanhope.

Mrs Glass blamed Government cuts for the demise of the facility.

But independent County Councillor John Shuttleworth, whose mother Patricia died after being forced to leave the home, said he was “absolutely livid” about the MPs claims and accused her of “conning the public”.

He said a visit to Newtown House which Mrs Glass undertook in May last year was “stage managed publicity” and questioned why the families of the residents had not been told about it in advance.

He said: “She never went to that home at all until the announcement it was closing.

“People have died through the council’s actions and she is trying to blame the Government. It is easy to blame the cuts, but in fact was this was about was the council’s priorities and elderly people being at the bottom.”

Mrs Glass hit back in a lengthy rebuttal in which she stated she been “deeply involved” with efforts to save the home.

She said: “At best Cllr Shuttleworth is misinformed on this.”

Mrs Glass said she had met with Stanhope Parish Council as soon as she was aware the home was under threat and also confirmed she had visited Newtown House.

She also said she had submitted a very detailed objection to the closure, chaired a public meeting in Stanhope, and continued to be involved in developing a long term social care strategy for the area.

She said: “My visit to the home was not a ‘stage managed stunt’. I spent quite some time talking to residents, their families and staff.

“I don’t understand where his [Cllr Shuttleworth’s] comments come from other than political mischief making.”

Speaking about Mrs Glass’s visit to Newtown House a former member of staff at the home, who did not wish to be named, said: “As far as the staff were concerned it was too little too late.

“It was a publicity stunt, the decision over the closure had already been made before she showed her face and prior to that she had showed no interest whatsoever.”

* Five million pounds from a £5.8m budget Durham County Council had set aside for 2014/15 to upgrade the five care homes that closed is to be spent on new schemes included in the council’s medium term financial plan capital programme.

Cabinet papers reveal the authority intends to retain the remaining £840,000 in order to meet any associated costs with the facilities, “especially in relation to demolition”.