SIR – I was somewhat perplexed when I read the letter from Andrew Tinsley, (former Labour leader). The final sentence in his letter states people who live in glass houses should not throw stones . It is most unfortunate that he did not heed his own

SIR - I was somewhat perplexed when I read the letter from Andrew Tinsley, (former Labour leader).

The final sentence in his letter states 'people who live in glass houses should not throw stones'. It is most unfortunate that he did not heed his own advice.

Let us look at the facts of Andrew Tinsley's Labour administration.

He led a moribund, fiscally imprudent, backward looking administration.

He claims a balanced budget for 2001/2 [sic]using £2.8 million of reserves; living off of savings is the Labour way of balancing a budget, and there were no grand schemes.

He has also conveniently forgotten the cost of over 21 years of Labour administrations. It equates to a loss of over £1.5million a year for all of those years with nothing to show for it.

There is still the cost of perpetual lost interest on £32 million.

Since 2002 the Conservative administration has been trying to catch up and correct the legacy of neglect left by the last Labour administration.

We have reduced the deficit in our budget to around £300,000.

We have done lots of repairs to the WGC and Hatfield infrastructure and council buildings.

For the last two years the borough's portion of the council tax has been below the rate of inflation; every year under Labour is was above the rate of inflation.

It also does nothing for his credibility when he chooses to perpetuate the scurrilous accusation on when the current administration were aware of the intentions of the Hatfield developers, but as with central Government, mis-information is the name of the game.

Cllr John Mansfield,

Northaw and Cuffley Ward.

SIR - I feel Andrew Tinsley's letter regarding the competent way the previous Labour administration managed the council budget begs a response - one that is accurate!

The original budget for the 2002/3 [sic] financial year, as set by Labour, showed a net deficit of £2.8m.

As a result of this lack of financial control the Conservatives on winning control of the council in May 2002 faced a serious position which resulted in a thorough review of the council's expenditure over subsequent years.

This did include the outsourcing of a number of services, which has helped reduce the deficit significantly.

The Labour opposition has a 'spend, spend' mentality much like the present Government that sees the policy of spend and borrow as the way out of a crisis they themselves helped cause.

Councillor Alan Franey,

Welwyn Hatfield Council.