SIR: At long last, Mr Sackville has suddenly accepted he was wrong and admitted that there is a link between crime and unemployment.

He even puts part of the blame on the Thatcher years as though they were nothing to do with his present government. I'm sorry Mr Sackville but you can't just wriggle out of it that easily. Surely you must remember that a certain Mr Major had a senior role in her treasury?

This government has an uncanny knack of resting the blame on any problems it encounters purely on the shoulders of Margaret Thatcher. Was it a different party that ran this country during the 1980's? Or is this present government prepared to stoop to any depths in order to shirk responsibility?

Now that Mr Sackville has decided to make a stand, I would ask him to support Labour's welfare to work scheme which is aimed at finding work or training for every 16 to 24 year old unemployed for more than six months.

It is only then that we shall see whether this U-turn by Mr Sackville is genuine or another one of his government's infamous pre election gimmicks.

Marc Schmid

Old Vicarage Mews, Daisy Hill, Westhoughton

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