Iain Dalton urges Leeds’s Labour-led council to reconsider nursery closures, while Anne-Louise Crocker and Emily Brookes wonder where new staff for the promised 100,000 extra places will come from

I’m sure many parents who are struggling to find a nursery place for their children will be happy to hear the proposal from Labour to create 100,000 new places in England, including in areas currently with limited provision (Labour pledges to create more than 100,000 new nursery places, 9 June).

But in a number of Labour-controlled local authorities, there are desperately needed nursery places that are facing the axe, including here in Leeds, as well as places such as Hackney and Brighton. Why convert schools, when there are purpose-built places already available that just need to be kept open? One of the reasons we have been given for the proposal to close three nurseries in Leeds, and privatise up to 12 others, is a lack of staffing, so parents will be keen to learn how Labour’s proposal will ensure these are fully staffed places with correct training.

Party’s proposals involve about £140m to refurbish school classrooms, but nothing extra to increase staffing

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Labour has been accused of leaving a gap in its childcare plans after the party confirmed its promise to offer 100,000 new childcare places would not involve extra funding to recruit more staff.

Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, appeared at a primary school in Nuneaton on Monday alongside the shadow education secretary to publicise the party’s pledge to expand childcare places through primary schools.

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Davey sums up the Lib Dems’ plans on health and social care

And he says he wants to mention one other policy he is particularly proud of – the proposal to give proper bereavement support to parents whose partners have died.