WHY are we not seeing more of our elected councillors standing up for Blackpool, asks local Arthur Scargill party spokesman Royston Jones (Citizen January 24)?

He also suggested that Blackpool has not benefited from our Labour government and asks what the town's two MPs are doing about it.

I would suggest a great deal.

Surely Mr Jones has heard of SRB2 which delivered £20m and SRB6 which brought another £20 million to the council and its partners, Blackpool Challenge Partnership. Add to those two figures the £18 million for the South Shore sea defences.

The council had to provide another £7 million for the project but the large grant was a huge benefit to the council.

These are just three grants; there are more if you need the details Mr Jones.

Regarding our MPs they have rightly supported the government in its drive to control inflation which has benefited every citizen in the country.

Mortgage rates are now very low, enabling people to move up or into the property market. The minimum wage. The £200 winter fuel benefit for those over 60. The free TV licence for the 75 year olds and over.

The working families tax credit. The increased family allowance. The lower car tax for millions of car owners driving 1500cc cars or less has benefited a very large number of Blackpool residents. The extra money for education.

The extra funding for the NHS. The £31 million grant to build the just-completed Victoria hospital extension known as Phase 5 with its superb new emergency department and new medical wards to replace the tired prefabricated wards.

This alone will benefit patients from Blackpool and the whole Fylde Coast.

Can Mr Jones not see these improvements, or is it a case of "none so blind as those who will not see"?

Labour is delivering and this is still only the beginning. How refreshing after the 18 years of cuts in public services. The NHS suffered a reduction of some 30,000 beds and many ward closures throughout the country.

Readers will be aware and thankful of the reversal of that trend. The country is being reshaped for the better.

All that is needed is a little patience and the ability to recognise improvements as they come on stream.

Jack Croysdill, The Labour Party for Blackpool North and Fleetwood.