I WOULD like to agree fully with Mr T L Entwistle in his letter to this paper of July 19. The Socialist movement has provided the biggest block on progression in this country.

If it was not for the will of Mrs Thatcher in the early 80s this country would still be in the state of terminal decline. I am sure I do not have to remind readers of the dead bodies on street corners, rocketing inflation and the 98 per cent tax rate. If these were not bad enough, this once proud country was the laughing stock of the world. That was until Mrs Thatcher was swept to power in 1979, the year of hope.

The Thatcher Government lived up to its promises. It broke the unions and freed business to create wealth which has seen this country become the fourth most successful in the world. She valiantly stood up for democratic rights by sending the task force to re-gain the Falklands. She stood firm, shoulder to shoulder with another hero of the 80s Ronald Regan and won the cold war, ending for ever the evil sceptre of world socialism and nuclear war.

This country, while still having its problems, is still 100 times better than in 1979. I would even argue that the world has changed for the better because of the Thatcher era. Her economic model is used in many countries and her deregulation and privatisation is the corner stone of reforming governments throughout the world.

We can contrast this record of excellence with that of New Labour, or disguised socialism would be more apt. We see their old tricks of tax and spend and already there is a hole in the Chancellor's forecasts.

We see their petty envy with the treatment of the countryside, an issue they don't understand and don't care about. Foot and mouth has been handled so bad, for the second time, that it will take decades to recover, if at all.

The NHS is exporting patients to other countries when New Labour's envy won't allow them to be treated in private hospitals. And what is worse, New Labour seems to want to take us head first into a European Superstate, complete with harmonized taxes, its own army and a currency which will end the independence of Sterling, but will bring disaster to those who participate.

Like Mr Entwistle I am terrified of another four years of Hard New Labour.

Coun Simon Renwick,

Conservative,

Fylde Borough Counci.