YOUR article highlighting Bolton North East Tories' support for William Hague's so called "common sense" measures for education, reinforces their position as the party of the few.

Not once was funding mentioned, which is no surprise when the Shadow Chancellor brands Labour's extra £19B as "irresponsible".

All the new proposals do is show that if the Tories are elected again they will increase selection in schools. The 17-year-old Tory in your article triumphs selection as he says it worked for him at Canon Slade. Try telling that to all those children who are barred from attending Canon Slade, even though it is their nearest school. The 17-year-old Tory does not bother about small matters like that because he was one of the lucky few.

We were led to believe that the Tories had learnt from their defeat, and that they were "listening". The fact that they are still pursuing policies designed to benefit the few shows that they have learnt nothing at all.

Nick Peel

Exeter Avenue

Tonge Moor

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