I AM not sure if C Riley in his letter (HAS, Jan 10) appreciates that I have a long history of campaigning for new jobs for the North-East.

Job creation and confidence in the UK economy is essential.

When Labour was elected in 1997, inward investment fell dramatically.

They sat back and allowed our jobs to go abroad. At the same time they increased employment in the public sector.

I believe our economy must be based on a strong private sector.

Such a thing would have enabled the UK to provide resources for care for the elderly and the health service.

Instead, personal debt went unchecked and, now cuts have to be made, the Labour party is blaming the Coalition Government, which is having to make hard and sometimes unpopular decisions.

I don’t agree with all of the cuts and have voiced my concern about the early mothballing of HMS Ark Royal.

We should always put the defence of the UK first.

Mr Riley will be pleased to know that new business startups have increased by nearly 20 per cent in County Durham and that yesterday Nick Clegg and David Cameron signed a £2.6bn trade agreement with China.

I have also asked Nick Clegg and Vince Cable to support the Hitachi rail bid.

Councillor Ben Ord, Spennymoor/Middlestone division, Durham County Council