MAY I respond to Ian Holland (Letters, March 2) who describes matters I have raised pertaining to people in the Bolton borough suffering hardship under universal credit, poverty and county court closures under the Conservative government as ineffective bleating.

I stated in my letter that Lord Freud the former Conservative minister is saying that payment delays in universal credit are not right and need attention. I represent a ward with a considerable number of residents who have out of or in work benefits. They contact me to ask about council hardship funds and money advice services; also for help with housing when they have rent arrears and are at risk of eviction.

Can I also add that a leading Conservative, Lord Porter is telling his government that their policy on Adult Social Care is unjust and needs to change.

I accept that Mr Holland has every right to wax lyrical about the good he finds in his Conservative government and that he wants an effective opposition in Parliament. But when national government policies are considerably affecting the lives of the people of Bolton; when they are strongly connected to the matters that constituents take to councillors it is right that councillors speak out. Let us not forget that there is a government department, the Department for Communities and Local Government, affecting what we do as councillors here in Bolton day in and day out.

If Mr Holland looks closely he will find that even some of his party colleagues who are conservative councillors disagree with their own government from time to time.

Cllr Sue Haworth

Harper Green ward