Walliams backs saving libraries

BESTSELLING author David Walliams has called for the “safeguarding” of libraries.

The comedian and writer of books such as Mr Stink and Gangsta Granny said that “access to reading” should be improved.

Imagining what he would do if he was Prime Minister, Walliams, 47, told Radio Times magazine: “I’d... introduce new laws on children’s literacy.

“Whenever I am filming around the country I try to make time to go into a school and give out copies of my books.

“World Book Day provides books for children, and for a quarter of the kids it’s the first book they ever own. So I’d want to improve access to reading and safeguard libraries,” he said.

His comments come after an analysis of Government figures revealed that libraries in England have had their funding slashed for the fifth year in a row.