I WISH to point out a fact which seems to have been missed during the recent petrol demonstrations.

During their time in government, the Tories told us they were putting the price of petrol up year after year to reduce usage supposedly as an "environmental saving" measure. Since New Labour came to power they have repeated this on many occasions.

The Prime Minister appeared on television and radio several times. He referred continually to the fuel tax as being "revenue raising" for the Exchequer. Never once did he say that the extortionate rate of fuel tax was for a "green" measure.

The truth about New Labour is that they are the tax-spend party. The fuel tax is only one of a series of crippling taxes introduced by them since they came to power and the Tories and Lib Dems are no better.

Where is all the money going from these taxes plus the £22 billion raised from mobile phone companies and the billions from North Sea oil?

They claim education and the health service are benefiting but, looking at it objectively, nobody seems to see any difference. The money certainly isn't going to pensioners, public transport or the welfare state.

Perhaps it is being used for Mr Blair's number 10 entertainment budget?

Peter Jackson,

(A disgruntled ex-Labour voter now working to pay massive taxes),

North Road, Cleveleys.