AS Chair of Bolton West Labour Party, I feel I must reply to the disgraceful attack made against Ruth Kelly MP by the Conservative Party, in the form of a letter written by Albert Hornby.

A year ago Ruth was unanimously re-selected by Bolton West Labour Party members, to defend this seat at a future General Election -- a fact reported by the BEN at the time. Any comments suggesting otherwise are nothing more than cheap underhand tactics by the Conservative Party.

I for one look forward to helping Ruth retain her seat against a Conservative opponent, who, while working for Tom Sackville, supported the Poll Tax, Opencast Mining, increased VAT on fuel for pensioners, and the relaxation of the laws governing telecommunication masts -- facts which he will hope voters have forgotten.

Unfortunately, Ruth's involvement in local issues and her high profile, creates enemies among her political opponents, hence the cheap attacks made by Mr Hornby.

One good thing out of all of this, however, is that it has made everyone realise how unfit to govern the Tories are. They are forced to make personal attacks against our three MPs simply to divert attention away from the £16 billion worth of spending cuts which would starve our schools and hospitals. They do not want to have to explain to voters in Bolton that less would be spent on repairing roads, on the elderly, or the less well off, under a Conservative Government, so instead they say Brian Iddon never works in Farnworth, David Crausby never works in Bromley Cross, or that Ruth is moving to London for a safe seat -- accusations which are simply not true.

If the Tories want to be taken seriously, then they should start telling us where the axe will fall in Bolton to make room for the spending cuts. If they don't, we will assume they have given up any hope of winning the next election, as without proper policies they haven't got a chance.

Cllr Morris

Chair Bolton West CLP