Referring to the North-South divide and the study undertaken on regeneration in the North, he implies that the authors of the study are all friends and fellows of Conservative leader David Cameron.

Mr Wright suggests that the next Tory government will pull the plug on regeneration in the North East.

Being a politician, he would not remember Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Government bankrolling the ground-breaking redevelopment of Hartlepool Marina into what it is now.

However, like me, he will remember the closure of Hartlepool's hospital and Brierton School. And the threat of closure to Elwick and Hart schools.

Not to forget the relocation of emergency services call centres, the impending police strike, the loss of 20 million names and private details on the child benefit database, the lack of protective clothing for our armed forces, the nationwide council workers two-day strike and not forgetting the 10p in the pound tax deduction for low earners.

Stephen Close,
Hartlepool.