TORY MP Nigel Evans has challenged East Lancashire's Labour ministers to say whether they back the view of former Defence Minister Peter Kilfoyle that the Government is letting down the North.

The Liverpool-Walton MP dramatically quit as a Junior Defence Minister amid claims that he felt New Labour was doing too much for the South and not enough for traditional supporters.

Ribble Valley MP and Tory vice-president Mr Evans wants Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw, Broadcasting Minister and Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson and Hyndburn MP and Government Whip Greg Pope to speak out.

Mr Evans said: "It is clear that Peter, like many of his constituents and many people in the North West, feels badly let down by this Government and his resignation following Blair's 'thousand days' celebrations speaks volumes.

"The challenge is now for other local ministers such as Mrs Anderson, Mr Pope and Mr Straw to say whether they back Peter Kilfoyle and the people of the North West who feel badly let down by this Government, or Tony Blair and his modernisers who are consistently ignoring the plight of those in need."

But Mr Pope hit back: "This is a bit rich from Nigel. It is his Tory government which over 18 years created the North/South divide which we, through policies like the new deal, are trying to put right.

"Who would have believed in May 1997 that unemployment in Hyndburn which hit almost 20 per cent under the Tories would now be down to just three per cent?"

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