I HAVE followed with interest your stories and editorials regarding petrol prices.

I share the outrage of your readers at the current price of petrol. It is scandalous that, since the General Election, petrol on average has risen by 25.6p per litre. It is now the most expensive in Europe. It is important to remember that 32pc of the 40pc fuel price increase is due to tax.

This Government is determined to penalise the motorist. They have targeted them with their stealth taxes and spent very little on improving roads. In Bolton, we now have the £4 gallon. At this rate, how long will it be before we get the £5 gallon?

In fact, it is not just the ordinary motorist who has been hit by these stealth taxes. The fuel tax has hit the NHS harder than most. Fuel tax costs the Health Service£18.5 million per year--enough to pay for 600 junior doctors or 1,233 new nurses. The Road Haulage Industry has also been hit very hard.

At the last Election, Tony Blair claimed that he had no plans to increase taxes. This is yet another example of Tony Blair not only betraying the people of Bolton, but Britain as well.

Michael Winstanley

Prospective Parliamentary Candidate

for Bolton North East Conservative Association