THE Labour Party came into being in February 1900. Set up because the two parties at the time, Tories and Liberals, did nothing for the working class, the rank and file.

The Tories spoke for the upper class, the gentry of the day, and the Liberals spoke for the middle class.

So Labour set out to address the balance and tried for 90 years and then Tony Blair turns up and he decides to make changes.

Away with clause four, the workers' right to own the fruits of their labours.

Play down those policies that upset the rich and powerful and then Mr Blair and friends call it New Labour and move to Middle England to get votes while the working class look on and are expected to applaud.

Now Tony Blair wants to give tax cuts to middle England or should I say the middle class and above.

Does Tony Blair think that all supporters in the heartlands of Labour support are going to be there when he turns round?

Does Tony Blair take these heartlands for granted? Because, if he does, then he is making a big mistake.

Some support will remain but a lot will be lost. Tony Blair is trying to please everyone and it cannot be done. There is still class distinction in this country even if some don't want to believe it and the Labour Party was begun to represent the working class even though, over the years, some people have tried to sidetrack it.

Tony Blair's interpretation of what the Labour Party is is different to its original intent, it was to represent the rank and file, the ordinary man and woman.

But now, that is not the case, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and class distinction is still here.

Just look at your council estates, they are still treated as third class citizens and there are areas even worse than them, poor people struggling. The Labour Party was meant to help them not to pamper to the rich.

The Labour Party is not Tony Blair, and should not forget its roots.

Grenville Moore

Iris Avenue

Harper Green

Bolton