WHEN you attack someone in the press, you should have the courage to put your name to the article or letter. Therefore, it was with great disappointment that I read the letter published in the BEN of February 15, criticising me.

I have lived in Bolton since 1972. I could not have served on Bolton Council if I had not lived in Bolton (or had a business presence in the town)! I was Chairman of the Housing Committee for 10 years, 1986-1996, and had a lot of publicity during those years in the BEN.

During my time as Chairman of the Housing Committee, I took a great interest in the Farnworth area; indeed, I promoted the formation of tenants' and residents' associations and often visited their meetings, and the estates, to make sure that the Housing Department was delivering what our policies had determined.

I am the MP not only for Farnworth but also for Little Lever, Kearsley, Burnden and The Haulgh, Harper Green, Great Lever and Darcy Lever, Morris Green, Deane, Derby and Daubhill.

Everything which I do in Westminster is important to the people of Farnworth. I enclose a list of 150 entries in the Official Record (Hansard) which are attributable to me. The latest available figures for my voting record is well over 90pc - the rest of the time I am carrying out other duties, agreed by the Government Whips, often in the Bolton South East Constituency. I am interested in drugs, legal and illegal, as an issue because of my professional background before being elected to Parliament in 1997.

As for pursuing things to the finish, please remember that I have only been down here for a short period of time. I challenge the writer to shadow me for a week!

Dr Brian Iddon

MP for Bolton South East

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