SIR: Recently we were asked to vote - but what for? The New Labour policies are just the same as the Tories that the people kicked out!

New Labour has betrayed the people, especially the pensioners, lone mothers and the unemployed. The "Fat Cats" flourish with their millions at public expense.

The system is exploitative and only benefits the rich, and we, the public, are just used as voting fodder to give the semblance of democracy!

It is a giant con trick and the poor get poorer and MPs laugh all the way to the bank - 29pc rise! And councillors do very well, also.

So what is the point of keeping their politicians in the gravy?

A Chattin

Bridgeman Street, Farnworth

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.