Prime Minister Tony Blair has backed the Evening Echo's campaign against cuts in meals on wheels services in Essex.

The Premier's support came after Basildon MP Angela Smith called on him to denounce Essex County Council's plans during Prime Minister's Question Time on Wednesday.

She asked if he had managed to read the Echo's coverage of proposals which could see the axe fall on the daily delivery of hot meals to the needy.

Areas such as Basildon, Castle Point, Rayleigh and Rochford would be affected by any shake-up.

Speaking through Tory jeers, Mr Blair replied the proposed cuts showed the "real face" of the Conservative Party which no-one should ever forget.

He added: "They cut services and they cut money going to the poorest people in our country. The Tory party has always stood for the few, not the many, and they always will."

In her question to Mr Blair, Mrs Smith inquired as to whether he had had an opportunity to read the Evening Echo this week.

She said: "Can I ask now if you would take a look because the Tory-led Essex County Council is considering removing the meals on wheels service.

"The proposal is that two weeks' worth of food should be delivered frozen to pensioners who have been determined by the county council to be unable to cook meals for themselves or are a danger to others if they do so."

She added: "Would you suggest to Essex County Council that it does have responsibilities, even though it is Tory led, to put the needs of the vulnerable first?

"Might it cut the budget for its chairman's champagne reception before it cuts pensioners' meals?"

Yesterday (Thursday) Mrs Smith was tabling an Early Day Motion against cuts to meals on wheels. The motion had already gained the support of Essex Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs, including Colchester's Bob Russell .

Mrs Smith said she was pleased to have been able to put the issue to the PM.

She added: "I was the last person to get a question in because the Commons is packed for Question Time.

"When something is as important as this you want MPs across the country to know what is happening.

"A great number of people in Basildon are going to be hit if these proposals go through."

Tory county councillor, Kay Twitchen (Billericay), said frozen meals were only an option. She said continuing to care for the elderly was the most important consideration.

She added: "It does frustrate me when people like Angela jump on the bandwagon and accuse us of being half-hearted. We are asking people what they think and they have picked the worst option and said that is what we are going to do."

Angry - the Prime Minister, right, makes his views heard in the Commons after Angela Smith, left, asked him if he had read the news in the Evening Echo

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