UK ECONOMY: INFLATION is low. Unemployment is well down. Bank rates are low, and have not changed for a year.

In comparison with most of the post-war years, the British economy is in good shape.

There are adverse conditions in many parts of the world. Think of Germany and Japan. Gordon Brown may have been lucky, but he seems to have steered the ship better than most of his predecessors.

The economy has not grown as forecast, and the revenue forecast has been wrong. Gordon Brown could have scaled back investment, but he chose to borrow. He is optimistic about the medium term prospects.

I am more concerned about the £21bn he should have put into his liabilities column, because of the doubts about the private investment in transport than the increase in borrowing. Provided the borrowing is short-term, it is all right.

What is important is that we get the public spending to put things right, provided the country gets value for money. What is essential is proper scrutiny on how the money is spent. - Geoffrey Bulmer, Billingham.

GERRY STEINBERG

IT was recently reported that the MP for Durham, Gerry Steinberg, is to stand down. Whilst I have no political axe to grind, I find it astonishing that he lists among his achievements involvement in the Prince Bishop Shopping Centre and the millennium development. Most residents see the catastrophic effect the shopping centre has had on North Road, and the badly-planned, "neither nowt nor summat" theatre is, quite frankly, an embarrassment.

He has gained a reputation as the MP who won't rest until every green site in Durham is covered in concrete and brick. An unenviable legacy awaits. - Paul Tomaney, Durham.

BATTLEFIELD VISITS

EACH year the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Regimental Association Battlefield Research Section organises a pilgrimage to the battle areas of the First World War. In August and then again in September we plan to visit the battlefield areas of France and Flanders taking in the Somme and Ypres battles, also Vimy Ridge, Loos, Arras and Serre. The trip specialises in visiting specific cemeteries or memorials on request. An experienced guide will accompany the trip to commentate on specific battles. Wherever possible we also operate a grave tracing and photography service for those unable to travel.

We welcome all inquiries. Anyone interested and requiring further information should contract me. We ask for a medium sized SAE for postal replies. - Joe Street, 7 West Grove, Royston, near Barnsley, South Yorks S71 4RY.

Spennymoor

THERE'S nothing like blowing your own trumpet and taking credit for something that has had nothing to do with you. I am speaking here about Coun Ben Ord, who is attempting to take the credit for the paint work to go ahead in Spennymoor town centre.

The work - after many months of negotiations with the company and Sedgefield Borough Council - is going ahead. But this is thanks to a team effort involving Spennymoor Chamber of Trade, Sedgefield Borough Council and the crucial involvement of Spennymoor Town Council.

The big difference is that we are all singing from the same hymn sheet with the sole purpose of regenerating the town centre of Spennymoor.

The Local Strategic Partnership has now agreed that Spennymoor is the major centre for regeneration within the borough - a positive and constructive step forward. The borough council has recently launched a funding bid for Spennymoor and is awaiting the outcome. Special mention must go to the Spennymoor Town Centre Forum and its

chairman John Welsh who work tirelessly in their quest to enhance Spennymoor. The forum meetings are always open to the public and their input has been invaluable. Yet ironically, Coun Ord has yet to attend one such meeting. I wonder why?

So come on Ben, climb down from your soap box. Forget about your blatant electioneering, become a team player and if you really want to help, start attending the forum meetings. - Coun Bill Waters, Sedgefield Borough Council.

PRIVATISATION

WHEN the Labour Government was elected after World War Two it nationalised almost everything it could - coal mines, railways, electricity, steel and so on. Oddly enough, it reversed its policy on one thing and that was the National Fire Service which it denationalised, and now it is suffering the consequences.

But, of course, now it is in favour of privatisation. Positions reversed, about-turn? What will happen in the future? - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

NEW LABOUR

TONY Blair invited Mrs Thatcher round for tea and sympathy but has failed to invite firefighters round for beer and sandwiches.

Mr Blair blindly follows Mr Bush's policy on Iraq. His Government is currently discriminating against young people and sending unemployed people on forced labour schemes.

The Government, if it continues with these policies, will lose the votes of public sector workers, pacifists, young people and the unemployed.

The Government pays unemployed people under-25 £42.70 a week, which is £10 less than people who are 25.

Why does the government feel it is reasonable to discriminate on grounds of age?

The benefits agency now insists on visiting unemployed people in their homes, to check they live in that abode. They do this even if you are a housing association tenant and have provided them with a copy of your tenancy agreement. This is a pointless waste of public money. Unemployed people are forced to go on training schemes but no information about the training available is provided. It is one size fits all for the unemployed and the Government shows no flexibility.

An unemployed person voting for Tony Blair is like a turkey voting for Christmas.

Firefighters risk their lives and should expect a living wage. Some Manchester United footballers earn £70,000 a week and the Government refuses to tax them more. The Government could pay public sector workers more but there is not the political will to do so.

Mr Blair may appeal to Mrs Thatcher but he does not appeal to traditional Labour voters.

- M Beaty, Leeds.