SIR: The news that Labour have spent £11m on overseas trips, advisors and parties, is a shocking betrayal of all they said before the general election.

Mr Blair claimed that his priority would be education. Yet surely if this were the case, he would not have provided lavish parties for pop stars at Downing Street, but would have spent the money on trying to improve our schools and attract high quality teachers.

Since the Prime Minister himself employs 17 full time advisers, he can hardly complain about being short of suggestions for how he should spend taxpayers' money. The only conclusion must be that he feels that parties at No 10, and funding trips for ministers spouses, are correct use of scarce resources.

New Labour may talk tough about cutting down on public spending, but when the spending is on themselves their priorities seem very different.

Paul Brierley

Conservative Prospective Council Candidate

Bolton

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