COUNCILLOR Simon Danczuk (LET, February 2) is right for once - Labour-run Blackburn with Darwen Council is in need of a hard shake. We have had 20 years of Labour misrule and hundreds of millions of taxpayers money down the drain - for what?

They have proved this through their own lack of vision and inability to get to grips with the problem of reinvigourating the town, which is in need of rapid regeneration.

Housing is in dire straits, roads and footpaths are disintegrating at an alarming rate, the town is knee-deep in rubbish, the market is in terminal decline and much and much more are evidence of the failure.

Councillors are, in theory, elected for the benefit of the town, not their own egos. If they want to change the constitution, it should be put to the vote in a referendum, for the electorate has the prime right to decide how the council should be made up, not some secret little Labour caucus from within.

No amount of discussion with Labour cronies should be allowed to replace this right.

People should have a say as to whether they want an elected mayor, responsible directly to the people, or the alternative of a rump of Labour councillors elected by other Labour councillors in fear of the political commissars who now prevail.

Are the stalwarts of New Labour afraid of a 'direct' mayor? For it might be someone who is not a party member and cannot be intimidated by the threat of deselection.

WALT MEADOWS, Whalley New Road, Blackburn.

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