TOTTENHAM MP David Lammy has hit back at criticisms he has let down young people in his constituency after Labour-run Haringey Council voted through a 75 per cent cut in youth services.

In an open letter to the politician, Save Haringey Youth Centres said: "Our youth workers will soon be moving out of the borough to help other young people who are lucky enough to have a council that cares for their welfare and the doors on our youth centres will be closed leaving the wider community to be faced with the consequences.

"We are writing to you as our MP what you propose to do about this? You have yet to sign the early day motion to protect the youth services and we believe that you have no intention."

Mr Lammy said as a "strong supporter" of the campaign and young people he was disappointed by the accusations.

He said: "In a borough that sees our young people confronted by eye-wateringly high levels of youth unemployment, the scrapping of the Educational Maintenance Allowance and the Future Jobs Fund and the constant presence of gang culture, the Haringey youth service is an overwhelming force for good.

"Any service that engages young people of all ages, colours and religions from across the borough should be valued and protected."

The former higher education minister added: "I have met with officials from Haringey Council to discuss the future of youth services and made it absolutely clear I believe a 75 per cent cut is unacceptable and further compounds the challenges faced by young people in this borough."

The politician said he was written to Tim Loughton, the Minister for Youth Services asking for a meeting with him and representatives from Save Haringey Youth Services to see what additional funding the borough might be able to claim.