Labour Have Lost The People Of North Durham

This week's news was dominated by the fact that by far Britain's most popular daily newspaper has deserted the Labour Party, saying that "Labour's lost it." The paper makes clear that one of the major reasons for its decision was the fact that so many of its readers, ordinary hard working people who had put so much faith in Labour in 1997, have been let down by this Labour Government.

Don't listen to any of the Labour politicians who are pretending that this doesn't make any difference. Instead, ask yourself why Alastair Campbell described The Sun backing Tony Blair in 1997 as "the result of 3 years hard work." Ask yourself why Peter Mandelson said in 1997, "If The Sun chooses to pitch against us like last time, we will find it difficult to win."

This big news highlights the fact that so many people across the country, and in North Durham in particular, feel badly let down by this Government. People were full of hope in 1997. Now they see a Government that has resulted in declining social mobility and rising poverty. It has seen unemployment rise and a record number of young people not in education, employment or training. It has seen anti social behaviour get out of control - affecting hard working people the most. The people of North Durham have witnessed a Government that, at almost every turm, ignores the North East and forgets the people who elected them in the first place.

And the people of North Durham have had enough of being let down. Not only has the Labour Party lost the Sun, it has lost the people of North Durham as well. So many people I have spoken to who have voted Labour all of their lives will be voting Conservative at the next election. It is clear that the people of Nort Durham are deserting the Labour Party in droves. We are sick of being taken for granted. We are sick of a Labour Party that has stopped standing up for the North East and stands only for the perpetuation of its own interests. The people of North Durham are ready to send a defiant message to the Labour Party at the next election.