YES, it's getting near to election, Mr Brown has been for a visit, and good old Mr Benfield (Labour councillor Derek Benfield) trots out the figures for '79 again.

Why he didn't also mention the winter of discontent, when you had to get in line to be buried in Whitworth cemetery, is beyond me?

I wonder what the interest rates were then?

Here are a few facts on life today, which are to the point: violent crime has doubled since '97, and is almost, like immigration out of control, murders now are so routine they hardly even get a mention on page 50 of the daily papers.

Immigration as I said is out of the window, schemes like the Sheffield fast scam, brought so many into the country, the Home Secretary had to say that he had no idea of the numbers.

Since '97 we have had 64 stealth type tax rises.

The number of people "inactive" in September last year was just short of eight million and yet Labour claims to be getting people back to work.

Next time he writes, Mr Benfield should explain how he and his colleagues did so much to get us recorded as one of the 13 worst run councils in the land.

I wonder if he will say how he feels about paying over £100 for an ID card which, as shown in Madrid, Spain, did nothing to stop bombers. Pieces of plastic mean nothing to a bomber.

T REYNOLDS

Swindon