I CANNOT allow our local MP to get away with his comments without picking him up on a number of points, He uses the usual Tory Party smoke and mirrors to cover up the real issues.

He states that their policies have allowed local councils to freeze Council Tax, making it 10 per cent lower than at the last General Election. What he fails to point out is that the Forest of Dean District Council (and many others around the country) have made massive cuts in services, and at the same time increased charges for pest control, the collection of garden waste and car parking charges.

People using these services are still paying their Council Tax plus these charges. The collection of garden waste for example, was paid for by my Council Tax.

As I can't have a green bin why have I not had a reduction in my tax? At the same time those people paying the £26 would have been receiving the service through their Council Tax, so in effect they are paying twice. Typical Tory sleight of hand!

As for helping small businesses in the Forest, the introduction of the car parking charges has certainly not done this. Quite the opposite as we can see daily in the local papers .I find it particularly galling that he has the nerve to say that the government's economic policy has helped keep interest rates down.

It was the under the last Labour Government that interest rates fell to the current level in order to bail out the massive problems caused by the banks.

Come on Mr Harper, at least give an honest appraisal of the situation in the Forest of Dean, rather than churning out Central Office rhetoric.

– Bernie O'Neill, Cinderford.