Labour councillors have been called on to make a ‘clear commitment’ to keeping the last publicly owned Haringey care home open.

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) claims a row has broken out in the Labour group over the Osborne Grove nursing home on Upper Tollington Park, which was slated for closure after health inspectors branded it ‘inadequate’.

Haringey councillors voted in December to close the home on care and safety grounds.

The council said it was concerned at the pace of improvements at the home and the £1 million overspend required to bring it up to standard.

But the TUSC said all three Labour Candidates in the Stroud Green ward, where the home is located, had expressed their desire for the home to remain open, along with “the overwhelming majority of Labour members”.

It added that two Labour councillors, Zena Brabazon and Ermina Ibrahim, had been challenged at hustings events to commit to keeping the home open but had refused to do so.

Cllr Ibrahim confirmed the council planned to review the case.

The TUSC, which is standing three candidates in Seven Sisters ward, wants to keep Osborne Grove open.

Seven Sisters TUSC candidate Nick Auvache said: “The deselection of many pro-HDV [Haringey Development Vehicle] councillors marked a shift to the left in Haringey Labour which has raised hopes and expectations of many Labour members and voters.

“Of course, some Labour candidates, like those in Seven Sisters, make no secret of their opposition to the move left and would be a thorn in the side of new council leadership if elected. This is why it is so important for the new council to be clear in its commitment to keep Osborne Grove open.”

A spokesman for Haringey Labour said: “On May 4, Osborne Grove nursing home will be high up the new council’s list of priorities.

“All Haringey Labour candidates are committed to supporting the most vulnerable members of our community and that’s why our manifesto pledges to review adult social care, including working to reintroduce adult day building based services. Our candidates and members are united in their aim to win the election on May 3rd to make this happen.

“Nick Auvache knows this quite well. He has seen Councillors Zena Brabazon and Emine Ebrahim consistently voice their personal opposition to the current proposals for Osborne Grove Nursing Home in council meetings and elsewhere in public. Needless to state, our recollection of events is rather different from his.”