THE local election results sent a clear message to New Labour. The same people who voted to get rid of the Tories only 12 months ago were not prepared to turn out to support Tory policies and attitudes under a Labour government.

This wasn't a local matter, although New Labour loyalists like MPs Greg Pope and Janet Anderson should start asking themselves serious questions about why people have rejected what they personally support.

The Labour losses in Hyndburn and Rossendale were greater than in other areas of Lancashire.

The Labour vote nationally was well down on previous years. Labour voters didn't turn out because they are being told by the Government that they should not expect much more than what they got under the Tories.

Hardly a message of encouragement for those who wanted a change after 18 years and, rightly, expected to see it.

In just one year, the Labour Government has put a lot of effort into showing itself as being on the side of employers rather than workers, giving encouragement to bigots who attack single parents, pandering to millionaire businessmen who can buy influence with donations, and endorsing the views of those who despise the Welfare State and want to see more rigorous means-tested benefits. There is nothing 'new' in this - the Tories have made it their miserable speciality for years and, more importantly, it got them booted out at the last election.

More eloquently than any comment, the election results show that young people do not accept all the rhetoric about everything being 'new,' 'modern,' 'young' and 'exciting.'

There is nothing new or exciting about being in a low-paid job, working for an employer who can sack you at any time during your first two years of employment. This is 'New Britain.'

What people would support is a real improvement in the quality of life of working people and the state services on which they rely. The trade union movement certainly recognises this and will be fighting to achieve it, whatever the Labour Government does.

PETER BILLINGTON, (Secretary, Hyndburn and Rossendale Trade Union Council), East Crescent, Accrington.

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