IN response to Councillor Dave Smith's remarks in 'We've never had it so good' (Letters, November 28), he gives a list of Labour's achievements since it came to power, but writes off all they have got wrong by claiming the Government has got everything right and that much remains to be done.

But how many of the achievements he boasts about are due to the fact that voters did not want to join the euro and through not being in we have vast investment from places such as America?

Coun Smith says that the New Labour party has put in above-inflation investment in schools and hospitals, but if inflation had been high would there then still have been above-inflation investment?

Now, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are admitting that they have got it wrong and that income tax will have to go up to bring health spending up to the same level as the rest of Europe.

I seem to remember that the Lib Dems said that this kind of investment was needed in the last General Election and that if we wanted a National Health Service we would have to pay for it.

As for reduced VAT on fuel, we still have the highest petrol price in Europe, with more than three quarters going to the Exchequer. When the road hauliers went on strike not long ago over the cost of fuel, Tony Blair said the high price of fuel was one we had to pay to support, guess what? -- the National Health Service.

The lowest mortgage and inflation rates that Coun Smith cites may be good thing for business and for house-buyers, but what about pensioners? Those with their life savings invested and looking to the returns to be able to afford the little luxuries, such as a holiday and presents for the grandchildren.

Every time interest rates go down, the returns get less. But, never mind, because, according to Coun Smith, increases for state pensioners were above earnings levels. Did he forget about the 75p rise that was given to them a year or so ago?

Not everyone thinks the situation is as rosy under Labour as Coun Smith suggests.

ROY DAVIES, Olive Lane,

Darwen.