FROM letters and articles in the Evening Advertiser I see the Tories ended 2004 with the same approach to finance as always to cut waste.

Unfortunately for some of the electorate, a Tory drive to cut waste means cuts to jobs, cuts to services including voluntary services and cuts to investment in Swindon.

Even some Tory councillors show concern.

Swindon has been running on the lowest council tax in the south west for years, largely due to a formula devised by the previous Tory Government that restricted Government funding to Swindon, this is where the problem lies.

A letter from Don Reeve (Advertiser December 23) did explain this very well.

Our Labour MPs have both worked hard to correct the effects of this problem and succeeded in bringing millions of pounds into Swindon.

Yet the Tories remain unable to solve the problem that they themselves say exists.

Previous Labour councils built the economic jewel of the south west. Where? Swindon!

MIKE SPRY

Nythe