ANDREA Hughes (Your Letters, September 8) highlights how easy it is to forget the achievements of the Conservative administration from 1979-1997 and the reason why they were elected in the first place.

In 1979, under a Labour administration, the country was gripped by strikes, had roaring inflation, the dead were not being buried, the streets were piled with rubbish, and the country was on the verge of bankruptcy.

It took many tough decisions to drag the country back into the 20th century, and all the benefits of a healthy economy which Tony and his cronies inherited were due to the sacrifices made prior to 1997.

Three-and-a-half years down the road, with an increased tax burden, increasing poverty, and total paralysis of the country caused by resentment of higher and higher taxes, the scene becomes very similar to the one that existed in 1979. The "tax by stealth" embarked upon by this government has no equal and it affects most ordinary citizens.

After three-and-a-half years, it is not good enough to blame the previous administration for everything that goes wrong. Andrea Hughes should really start looking at the state of the country. law and order, education, health which are all deteriorating, despite the usual Labour spending spree.

Roll on the election!

CHRIS HALL,

Tottington.