I AM writing in response to David Crausby's comments in The Bolton News regarding his view that the Conservative Party is planning to tax the families of our servicemen and women.

This is absolutely preposterous and typical of the current Government's headline-grabbing comments.

Not only have the Conservatives produced a discussion document, but they have no intention of increasing the tax burden on anyone.

George Osborne made it quite clear that any increase in aviation tax would be offset by a reduction in direct taxes. The Conservatives have never been, nor will they ever be, the party of high taxation.

I would like to ask Mr Crausby to challenge his Government about why our soldiers are fighting a war ill-equipped? Why are our servicemen and women in Iraq and Afghanistan without the appropriate body armour and boots?

Why are their families paying tens of pounds a month to send parcels to their loved ones because this Government hasn't equipped them as they so clearly need and deserve to be?

So, Mr Crausby, why don't you ask our armed forces what they want from your Government?

Is it you grabbing the headlines over a discussion document or is it answers from your Government on why they are fighting a war ill-equipped, and with little hope of the appropriate care on their return?

I know what my answer would be!

Deborah Dunleavy, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Bolton North East