Prejudice and muddled thinking

He claims the Government's measures against crime and anti-social behaviour seem mainly aimed at the poorest and most deprived. This is nonsense.

For example, one important part of Labour's anti-crime strategy targets the rich gangster bosses who run organised crime. They live in luxury while their trade in drugs, guns and the like brings death, misery and fear to our communities - especially the poorest.

Mr Metcalfe also accuses New Labour of ignoring the needs of workers on low pay. He forgets to mention that soon after Tony Blair was elected Prime Minister the Government brought in the national minimum wage, an huge step forward for those on the lowest pay.

It's true that it needs to be effectively enforced and that other measures are also needed, but is does not help the low-waged to pretend that Labour has done nothing for them.

Similarly, the writer's criticism of his ward councillor, Sheila Denwood, is silly and unfair. At the last election she promised to take action to tackle the problem of rubbish dumping and so by backing a tough line on fly tipping she is keeping that promise to her ward.

I have had personal experience of very low pay and of accidents due to inadequate health and safety at work, but Steve Metcalfe's comments are more likely to hinder than help attempts to sort out the problems.

Socialist, Morecambe (name and address supplied).