THE TORY opposition has been unable to provide any convincing criticism of Labour's spending proposals for the coming year at both local and national level. There has been a remarkable unanimity of praise for the priorities announced by the Chancellor in his budget.

Supported by increased Government grants, Bolton's budget is for the first time, after many years of painful cuts, able to fund expansion in education. New Government resources will expand services for some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members of our community to allow them to achieve a better quality of life.

There is clearly still much to be done to remedy the consequences resulting from the years of neglect and underfunding of local Government by previous Tory Governments. The decline of local services cannot be reversed in just two years.

It is, however, now clear that National and Local Government are working in partnership. There is now the real prospect of progress to solve the many social and environmental problems which rightly concern every community. So many of these are a direct consequence of the misguided ideological policies of a still divided Tory Party.

Cllr Bob Evans

Crescent Avenue, Over Hulton

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