move LABOUR'S plans to abolish Widows' Benefit are further proof that their much heralded welfare reforms have been hijacked by the Treasury and are in even more of a shambles now than they were before the Cabinet reshuffle.

It is a panic move taken in order to bail the Treasury out of its increasingly untenable position, stemming from Gordon Brown's mistaken projections for economic growth levels, the social security budget is set to rise considerably. The Government has clearly shown that welfare reform has become little more than a synonym for saving cash. It seems that welfare reform is now well and truly off the Government's agenda.

Mrs Martha Rushton

Kinloch Drive, Heaton, Bolton

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