IT seems a shame that Labour supporters, totally blind to the failings of the previous Labour government under Jim Callaghan and oblivious to the failed policies, broken promises and betrayals of the current one, have to rely on demonising Margaret Thatcher, using her name as a bogeyman to frighten us as if we were little children.

Would it not be better for them to tell us what they stand for? What their polices actually are?

I would ask Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat candidates what their policies are on agriculture and transport and why they do not seem to have one.

What are their policies on Europe, the Middle East and what is their exit strategy for Afghanistan? These, as well as the economy and future power supplies, are what we want to hear about.

The past is history. Mistakes and failures have been made on both sides.

So come on, let’s have a grown-up discussion without vague rhetoric and childish name-calling. Let’s vote on the manifestos, not on personalities.

Let’s just for once do what’s best for Britain, putting the country’s needs above our own agendas and party loyalties.

GN Bull, Darlington.

THERE will be a lot of young first-time voters at the forthcoming General Election who will not know the damage created by the Tories when they were last in power, especially when they privatised everything, including British Steel – and that is why the Corus plant at Redcar has gone down the pan.

Their legacy remains with us and always will because it is impossible to nationalise something that has been sold off because of the shareholders’ deep pockets.

However, I think pensioners do have the gumption to realise that a vote for the Tories will mean an end to their yearly heating allowance, that they could also lose their free bus passes as they will be means-tested, and that the free TV licence for those over 75 will be abolished.

This country is in a much better state now than it was under the Tories and it is a well-known fact that a leopard never changes its spots.

Brian Corrigan, Tow Law, Co Durham.

A RECENT shock opinion poll showing that Gordon Brown is on course to form a minority government after the forthcoming General Election has thrown up an interesting statistic.

The YouGov survey, published in The Sunday Times, appeared on February 28 – and that was the date of the 1974 General Election that resulted in a hung parliament.

The election had been called by Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath at the time of a miners’ strike and the three-day working week.

It seemed inconceivable that an election could be held in such circumstances, but Labour was confident.

In the end, Mr Heath failed to form a coalition with the Liberals and Labour became the minority government. Are we heading in that direction again?

LD Wilson, Guisborough, East Cleveland.

WITH the upcoming General Election I’m sure that a common lie will be heard. It is: “If you don’t vote for one of the main parties, you are wasting your vote.”

There is, of course, only one way to waste your vote and that is not to use it.

So I urge everyone, come election day, to use your vote for whoever you think will do the best job as your next MP and don’t listen to the lie about wasting your vote.

Tony Pattison, Darlington.