ONCE upon a time, there was a land called England, with farmers and butchers and then ... New Labour, new young Labour, the People's Party.

What a load of clowns are now in charge of our country.

As a lifelong socialist, I cannot understand their policies, attacking single parents, banning doorsteps on future buildings, making it illegal for butchers to sell beef on the bone - worse still, preventing the population from eating it.

There is more chance of being eaten by a shark at the local baths then dying of BSE.

Lamb is now on the danger list. I am beginning to wonder if it is all a European conspiracy to ruin this country economically.

Of course, it you ban anything that is popular it usually finds its way into the black market.

Life is dangerous, Maybe this government will ban all future births.

Beware of a Prime Minister who smiles all day. Let's have some people power. Don't let them get away with it - wake up!

MAURICE McHUGH, Marlowe Crescent, Great Harwood.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.