THE domestic policies that Geoffery Bulmer believes were unpopular with the electorate in 1979 (HAS, May 13) did not seem to hinder the crushing victories of the Conservatives in 1983 and 1987. Could it have been the success of privatisation, low tax policies and trade union reform that returned them to power?

It was the success of these policies that split the Labour Party, such as when the SDP was formed. It was also the success of these policies that forced Labour to move away from union domination towards rational economies under John Smith and Tony Blair.

The conflict of interest between a successful economy and the trade unions, together with a belief in nationalisation and high tax policies, brought down every Labour government prior to 1997. Beginning with Attlee in 1951 (despite his huge majority in 1945), Wilson in 1970 and Callaghan in 1979, each time they left behind economic chaos.

The Conservatives look set to inherit yet another economic mess when these smug incompetents are booted out at the first opportunity. There will be no miracle recovery and they know it.

Labour has lied on inflation, NHS waiting lists, education standards, violent crime, unemployment, immigration and the referendum of the EU Treaty.

Des More, Darlington.