AS the first days of this new century and millennium tick by one cannot help but notice that the first 1,000 days of this New Labour government read like a nightmare from hell.

Europe: Tony Blair is trying to lead us into a euro-dominated "United States of Europe," which the British people don't want. The NHS in a state of collapse.

Fuel: We have the highest priced petrol and diesel in Europe.

Morals: Members of Tony Blair's Cabinet and the Tatchellites want to scrap Clause 28, making school children 'fair game' for perverts.

Britain: Jack Straw was the worst home secretary in the last century and there is no change in that performance this century. Who removed the controls of the last government allowing illegal immigrants and asylum seekers into this country at an astronomic rate? Police morale at it's lowest. Crime is increasing and, worst of all, he made false promises about extra police.

Taxation: We have had one stealth tax after another and new Inland Revenue codes which come into force in April will mean it is not worth working and will force most working class people to a level of poverty to support others living the life of Riley.

Local government: The new 'Cabinet' will lead to one-party rule, with no chance for opposition parties to oppose in council the crackpot escapades of the Labour Party locally.

Also, the new plan to stop traffic using Blackburn's town centre will drive away the fast-diminishing custom of the town's shops and, most of all, the over-charged trader's on Blackburn and Darwen's markets - look at the empty stalls.

E HARRISON, Brookway, Livesey, Blackburn.

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