I RECEIVED a letter today from Ruth Kelly MP. In the letter, dated February 28, in an envelope dated March 18, Ruth advises me of her support and copies me on a letter written by John Reid, Minister of Health, who recalls how nice it was to have met me in Oldham earlier this year when I was protesting about the health care postcode lottery.

I nearly lost my life a few months ago, due to Bolton Primary Care Trust's lack of funding for the latest cancer treatments.

The fact is, neither Ruth nor the minister came to my aid at all - they achieved nothing for me.

It was only after I was invited to meet Michael Howard and promised his intervention that, within 24 hours, my cheque was in the mail. A bitter pill to swallow for a me, as I'd voted Labour for 39 years straight, only to find my only ally in Michael Howard.

To add to my chagrin, it seems to me that, now the dust has settled, Ruth Kelly and John Reid - who can't even remember he met me in Manchester, not Oldham - are just busting a gut to claim they helped me in my cause.

To say that I feel betrayed by New Labour are the only words that I feel the Bolton Evening News would print. Now that we are into the election run-up, it gives me the opportunity to raise my voice and my vote against them.

If you live in Bolton West, there's a good chance it was me who dropped that "Vote Conservative" leaflet through your door.

We don't have to put up with Tony's blurred visions, we can vote the lot of them out!

Bob Norburn

Westhoughton