Labour's real legacy

There seems to be a complete refusal to accept any responsibility for the deep financial crisis that this country is now facing. A note was left behind to simply say that the money had run out, yet you would not believe from what Labour is now saying that the financial problems being faced by the coalition Government had anything to do with them.

Labour ministers were in the government that wrecked the economy yet they deny being the people in charge. So does it really matter who becomes the new Labour leader?

Expenditure on items designed to help the most vulnerable in society is most laudable if properly funded and so affordable.

Labour was reckless and failed to manage the house-keeping budget. Tax breaks were given to the rich yet during its period of 13 years in power, Labour, once the proud party of the working class, allowed the gap between rich and poor to become one of yawning proportions. Another part of its legacy was an increase in child poverty, however, responsibility for this seems to have been carefully airbrushed from history too. Labour concealed the true extent of the black hole in the nation's balance sheet so necessitating the degree of severity of the cuts that are being mooted.

The Liberal Democrats were between a rock and a hard place given the election result. Detractors do not offer a credible alternative to Nick Clegg acting in the interests of our country.

A coalition with Labour was not a viable option as it would not have been able to ensure a stable government sufficient to placate the fears of foreign investors and the financial markets, therefore, a long-term coalition agreement had to be drawn up with the Conservatives.

Whereas many people recognise this, there are those, particularly in

the media, who constantly carp simply because they would rather have our country go to the wall than the coalition government be a success.

If only there was such a more positive approach to democracy locally and with proportional representation for local elections!

Cllr Nick Wiltshire Secretary, Bognor Regis & Littlehampton Liberal Democrats

Kendal Close,Littlehampton

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