I AM a little confused by the actions of the so-called New Labour on social security spending.

I'm all for cutting spending and making government leaner and more efficient, but is it not obvious that for cuts in society security, then, in addition to red tape and bureaucracy, the government targets should be the lazy, able-bodied young people and adults who have been on the dole for donkey's years and refuse to seek employment?

Instead, they target the most vulnerable sections of society - single parents, the disabled and old folk.

Anybody with common sense can see that this is a case of putting the cart before the horse. I thought the government made cuts to make services more efficient and, so, benefit the weak and needy.

This is the kind of senseless, ignorant and heartless policy that was prevalent in the previous Tory government.

New Labour will do well do heed the warnings of their own MPS and Ministers who quit on the issue.

People got sick of the arrogance and heartlessness of the Tory government which thought it was going to be in power for ever and forgot the people who put them there in the first place.

This government will do well and listen to the voice of reason and learn from history - that no matter how huge the majority they have in parliament, nothing is permanent and the will of the people will always prevail.

Also the people voted in a new government that was expected to be firm, not foolhardy; prudent and, above all, caring - the last being the major element that got them elected in the first place.

D COKER, Griffin Street, Blackburn.

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