Ref. 24413-66MIKE BAWDEN (CON): This election is very critical for the medium and long-term future of the council.

The borough council was graded 'poor' in its corporate assessment in October 2002.

But the Conservative minority administration has made progress in the past 12 months.

It is a stark choice. You can vote to go back to the Labour legacy, or vote Conservative to give us two years to build on what we have achieved in the first year. The council is not delivering value for money.

But we have got tough management to drive through the necessary changes to provide more effective and economic delivery of services.

It is a choice of going back to a failing council with no ambition, or giving the Conservatives a chance to sort out the very real problems of Swindon after 25 years of Labour.