RE: Freedom honour for ex-MP. It certainly comes an no surprise to many of us in the borough that Mr Straw has obtained all-party support as there has been little or no opposition to practically all the major decisions affecting the council and its councillors.

Capita were brought into Blackburn with the support of 59 councillors and only three councillors voted against them 15 years ago. Capita wanted a 15-year contract and council bosses wanted an eight-year contract.

A ‘compromise’ was reached at 15 years. Weeks within starting the contract the housing benefit department was in chaos due to undermanning.

From then on privatisation was introduced across the borough with the support of Mr Straw and the council. The council can now be described as the privatisation capital of the north west.

Mr Straw was prominent in imposing the Private Finance Initiative on Royal Blackburn Hospital. Almost since it was finished it has had considerable financial difficulty and staggers from one crisis to another.

Schools continue to replace academies in the borough and the council’s role is less and less. Care for the elderly and disabled has also suffered some privatisation with staff being paid appalling terms and conditions.

Some of us will remember Mr Straw for the help he gave to Tony Blair to bomb Iraq – for what many believe to have been an illegal war and the destruction and loss of life that followed.

Don Rishton, Blackburn