THE breathtaking arrogance contained in the criticisms of parents in Darwen by the former boss of Capita and Blackburn with Darwen Council's favourite capitalist, Rod Aldridge (LT, October 3) cause some of us to ask what gives this man the right to take taxpayers to task when his riches and his company's wealth have been built on the back of public funds, both locally and nationally.

When he negotiated a 15-year contract to provide services with Blackburn with Darwen Council, the council generously gave him 500 skilled local government workers.

His company then proceeded to cut the terms and conditions of the job.

We are told earlier this year that many of the jobs and services handed over have been returned to the council less than halfway through the contract. Hardly a success story.

He is to be given control of what will be one of the largest schools in the borough without demonstrating any educational qualifications, £32m capital funding, and all the revenue funding required to run it, then he scornfully criticises the school it will replace as having a "lack of passion," backed as ever by the MP for Rossendale and Darwen, Janet Anderson, who blames the lack of sixth-form facilities.

Are we missing something somewhere?

If there is a lack of facilities is that not the fault of the council, the MP or the Government for not providing enough resources in the past.

Should Mr Aldridge not be blaming them for years of neglect and under-funding, rather than the parents.

DON RISHTON, Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn.