SO Labour is in the ascendancy is it? Nationally Tony Blair is sweeping ahead in the polls one year after the election and the honeymoon still appears to be on throughout the country. Even in places like Doncaster, Strathclyde, Hull and Jarrow where some party members have real problems the party is still doing well both locally and nationally.

Then we come to Lancaster and suddenly all bets are off. For the most part the Labour group on the council is looked on with disdain by most people I talk to around town. They have become as arrogant and secretive as the Tories ever were and will eventually go the same way... out the door!

The number of cock-ups recently highlighted in the Press have reduced the goings on at the town hall to the level of farce and what have Labour done about it? Nothing. They are rudderless and spineless and they ought to realise that there will be a political price to be paid for this state. As a card-carrying and lifelong member of the Labour party I urge them to lead from the front and show themselves to be more democratic than the rest.

Mr S Parker

Head Dyke Lane

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