SIR: The Tories, after 18 years, state that the economy is now stronger than ever, thus making the rich richer and the poor poorer.

A strong economy should be for the benefit of all the people.

Pensioners and sick people are virtually tied to their houses for 24 hours a day and have to use fuel for long periods. Not like MPs and bureaucrats who walk about in shirt sleeves in offices heated by taxpayers' money. The VAT on fuel has killed this government off and quite rightly. In my opinion, MPs like Tom Sackville, whose job it is to vote for what his constituents want and not what the PM wants, is out of order in voting for VAT on fuel. Not only that, but VAT is also added to the quarterly charges on both gas and electricity. A disgrace!

Let's hope Tony Blair keeps his promises in the next four years, if not we may remind the Labour Party of this quotation: "All political parties die at last of swallowing their own lies."

Mr A Leach

Plodder Lane, Farnworth

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