COUNCILLOR Bernard Regan has the cheek to describe my letter to your paper as fact-free before himself engaging in a cross between a poorly constructed rant and pure political bile.

It is always delightful when Champagne socialists such as Mr Regan, from their large, private detached houses, seek to lecture the rest of us about the working class.

Here are some facts Bernard might like about how his Government treated the working classes.

The past 13 years of Labour rule saw the gap between the richest and the poorest in our society widen, while at the same time the gap between the top 10 per cent and bottom 10 per cent performing schools also increased.

Several independent studies also showed that social mobility under Labour was much lower than we had seen for many decades. What about the record levels of personal debt that Labour let the poorest in our society get into?

Then there is the industrial decline which Labour loved to pin on Mrs Thatcher in the 80s. Well if Mrs Thatcher was bad for manufacturing in the UK, she was nothing compared to the last Labour Government. Under them the manufacturing base of this country declined at a record rate and hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs went overseas.

I could go on providing 'facts' for Mr Regan but the reality is that there are simply too many damning ones of the last Government to choose from.

I haven't even got started on the state of the public finances and debt levels left by Labour.

The coalition Government has been honest with the people. To sort out Labour's mess we are having to make tough decisions and spread the pain fairly.

Mr Regan should credit the working classes he patronised so well in his letter with a bit more intelligence. Labour can't go on treating ordinary people as fools, we've seen through you.

Andrew Percy

Brigg and Goole MP.