In the March 23 edition of The Bolton News, there was an article about Labour's election pledge to introduce free school meals. I read the comments by Cllr Hayes of the Lib Dems and Councillor Morgan Health, spokesman for the Conservatives, with great interest as both appeared to support Labour's pledge (with a little criticism added on).

Cllr Morgan actually said that his party had been calling for this to happen. I don't think that this is actually true but nevertheless he did show his support for the scheme by making this statement and that was welcomed by Labour.

However, this all party agreement was not to last! In the March 29 edition of The Bolton News Tory deputy leader, Bob Allen, wades in, contradicting his colleague, Cllr Morgan, by saying that the Council can't afford it and the money would be better spent on cleaning up chewing gum!

I really don't want to get involved with internal Tory rows but it clearly shows that they are as hopelessly split on this issue as they are on so many others.

Cllr Rosa Kay Bolton Labour Group