Ed Vaizey’s statements on public libraries (historical webpage)

A selection of articles  (Ed Vaizey’s statements, etc)  1. as Shadow Minister  and 2. as Minister.  List compiled by Shirley Burnham.  See this profile for a rather critical view of the man. This page is no longer updated due to Mr Vaizey leaving the ministry in 2016.

1.  As Shadow Minister

• THE BOOKSELLER | Vaizey on Libraries – “We can’t go on like This !” : February 2010 http://www.thebookseller.com/news/vaizey-libraries-we-cant-go.html
• THE BOOKSELLER | Vaizey and Hodge Clash over Library Future : February 2010 “Vaizey said it was ‘outrageous and offensive’ to everyone who ever cared about books and reading for Hodge to raise the question of whether libraries should remain a statutory local authority service.” http://www.thebookseller.com/news/vaizey-and-hodge-clash-over-library-future.html
• THE BOOKSELLER | Critics pounce on library review : March 2010 Vaizey said library users would be “sorely disappointed” by the work, commenting: “The library review has been delayed for more than two years. Now it has come out, it says very little….” http://www.thebookseller.com/news/critics-pounce-library-review.html
• CILIP Update : August 2009 The Conservatives are on the warpath about public libraries, said John Humphrys, and are citing them as a sign of ‘Labour’s failure to protect community life‘ http://communities.cilip.org.uk/blogs/update/archive/2009/08/12/public-libraries-are-news.aspx
• THE BOOKSELLER | Tories plan library renaissance : March 2009 http://www.thebookseller.com/news/tories-plan-library-renaissance.html
• THE BOOKSELLER | Vaizey slams Burnham : March 2009 http://www.thebookseller.com/news/vaizey-slams-burnham.html
• THE BOOKSELLER |Vaizey Tables Early Day Motion on Wirral : January 2009 http://www.thebookseller.com/news/vaizey-tables-early-day-motion-wirral.html

2. As Minister

“Councils have a legal obligation to provide comprehensive and efficient library services, and must consult with the local population on plans. We are the first Government to review every closure. Central government can and will intervene if a council is planning dramatic cuts.” Ed Vaizey, February 2016

• HUFFINGTON POST : October 2013 Ed Vaizey Says ‘Completely Useless’ Description Is ‘So True’ http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/10/02/ed-vaizey-useless_n_4028411.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003
• GOV.UK : June 2013. Speech to the Society of Chief Librarians Seminar https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/speech-to-the-society-of-chief-librarians-seminar
• LOCALGOV.CO.UK :  May 2013 Libraries must remain community hubs despite technological change, report says (Vaizey quoted) http://www.localgov.co.uk/index.cfm?method=news.detail&id=109920

• Hansard : 18th March 2013 Helen Goodman Q | Digital Exclusion – Response: Ed Vaizey http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm130318/text/130318w0001.htm
• The Stage : 8th March 2013 Ed Vaizey – ‘Crisis? What arts crisis?’ http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2013/03/ed-vaizey-crisis-what-arts-crisis/
• Gov.UK : 7th March 2013 LGA Conference | Speech by Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries “I’m delighted our library service continues to thrive” https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/speech-by-ed-vaizey-minister-for-culture-communications-and-the-creative-industries
• DCMS : 23rd January 2013 Arts Council and LGA Publish Principles for Community Libraries | Ed Vaizey quoted https://www.gov.uk/government/news/community-libraries-for-the-21st-century
• THEY WORK FOR YOU : December 2012 Vaizey: “to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service based on local need within available resources” http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2012-12-04a.128518.h&s=speaker%3A25067#g128518.q0
• THE BOOKSELLER | Vaizey: Inquiries can’t be called willy-nilly : September 2012 http://www.thebookseller.com/news/vaizey-%E2%80%98inquiries-can%E2%80%99t-be-called-willy-nilly%E2%80%99.html
• THE GUARDIAN | Library closures attract little sympathy from Ed Vaizey : September 2012 Libraries minister says he is ‘not currently minded’ to intervene to defend statutory duty to provide a ‘comprehensive’ service http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/sep/05/library-closures-ed-vaizey?INTCMP=SRCH
• THE BOOKSELLER : September 2012 Vaizey: no intervention over Bolton, Lewisham and Isle of Wight closures http://www.thebookseller.com/news/vaizey-no-intervention-over-bolton-lewisham-and-isle-wight-closures.html
• THEY WORK FOR YOU | Written Answer to Dan Jarvis MP : September 2012 http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2012-09-05c.119186.h#g119186.r0
• HENLEY STANDARD | Libraries hit by cuts offered share of £6m : August 2012 Culture minister Ed Vaizey said the library fund would be used to support a “vibrant” and “sustainable” modern library service. http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=1147450
• THE BOOKSELLER | Solomon presses Vaizey for answers on PLR : August 2012 http://www.thebookseller.com/news/solomon-presses-vaizey-answers-plr.html
• LOCAL GOV.co.uk | CIPFA to compare libraries : July 2012 Announcing the deal, culture minister Ed Vaizey said: ‘This new initiative will give local authorities – and local residents – the tools to see how their service measures up. It will help them and the public ask well-informed questions about their libraries – and also to make well-informed suggestions for improvement.’ http://www.localgov.co.uk/index.cfm?method=news.detail&id=106213
• FULLFACT.org | How many public libraries have closed since 2011 : July 2012 Library closure statistics quoted by Ed Vaizey MP, Dan Jarvis MP, CILIP and Public Libraries News – are examined http://fullfact.org/factchecks/how_many_public_libraries_have_closed_since_cuts_coalition-27697
• PUBLIC LIBRARIES NEWS | Special Report: Ed Vaizey’s most important speech since he took office: June 2012 https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2012/06/special-report-ed-vaizeys-most.html
• DAILY TELEGRAPH | Letter | from Ed Vaizey MP (Con) : 30th April 2012 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/9234952/The-Government-needs-to-set-out-plans-for-the-funding-of-care-services.html
• THE BOOKSELLER | Jarvis attacks Vaizey on Surrey judgement : April 2012 http://www.thebookseller.com/news/jarvis-attacks-vaizey-surrey-judgement.html
• THE BOOKSELLER | Editorial – Time’s Up, Mr Vaizey : March 2012 http://www.thebookseller.com/blogs/times-mr-vaizey.html
• THE BOOKSELLER | Hunt’s silence on Brent continues : October 2011 http://www.thebookseller.com/news/hunts-silence-brent-continues.html
• THE BOOKSELLER | Stonewall from government on library closures : June 2011 http://www.thebookseller.com/news/stonewall-government-library-closures.html
• THE BOOKSELLER | Vaizey: “No case” yet for libraries intervention : June 2011 http://www.thebookseller.com/news/vaizey-no-case-yet-libraries-intervention.html
• THE BOOKSELLER | Vaizey rebuffs library inquiry call : January 2011 http://www.thebookseller.com/news/vaizey-rebuffs-library-inquiry-call.html
• THE BOOKSELLER | “Efficient” library service means change, says Vaizey : December 2010 http://www.thebookseller.com/news/efficient-library-service-means-change-says-vaizey.html
• THE BOOKSELLER : July 2010 DCMS: “We are focusing on where the MLA functions will be managed and we recognise it is important to clarify this for the library service” http://www.thebookseller.com/news/statutory-role-culture-secretary-libraries-not-being-discussed-says-dcms.html
• THE BOOKSELLER | No Minister?  : July 2010 The (“support”) programme will offer “intensive, proactive work” with about 10  library authorities initially, Vaizey said, and will “investigate where they can drive down costs while maintaining a quality service.” http://www.thebookseller.com/blogs/no-minister.html
• THE BOOKSELLER | Vaizey wants streamlined library service : July 2010 http://www.thebookseller.com/news/vaizey-wants-streamlined-library-service.html
• THE BOOKSELLER | No, Minister? : July 2010 Last week the new culture minister Ed Vaizey unveiled the first steps in his strategy for libraries in a keynote speech at the Remodelling Libraries conference in London. Hopes were high after a strong performance in opposition but the speech fell short of the bold agenda some had anticipated. http://www.thebookseller.com/blogs/no-minister.html
• THE BOOKSELLER | Vaizey must speak now over library concerns, says CILIP : July 2010 http://www.thebookseller.com/news/vaizey-must-speak-now-over-library-concerns-says-cilip.html
• THE BOOKSELLER | Statutory role of culture secretary for libraries “not being discussed”, says DCMS : July 2010
  http://www.thebookseller.com/news/statutory-role-culture-secretary-libraries-not-being-discussed-says-dcms.htm