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AS a result of Labour's annihilation in the recent elections, their leaders promise to start listening to people and to re-engage. Here are a few tips for them:

■ Restore the 10p tax band with immediate effect as it is hurting the less well-off;

■ Halt the post office closures with immediate effect as it is punishing communities;

■ Allow a referendum on the European Union Lisbon Constitution/Treaty;

■ Get a hold on uncontrolled immigration as it is stretching schools, hospitals and the country's infrastructure to the limit;

■ Withdraw from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and invest the saved money in the UK economy at this time of recession;

■ Allow the elderly to travel on buses at convenient times to them;

■ Scrap the Olympics in London, and stop the sale of school playing fields, which is now at an all-time high, and put the saved money into school and junior sporting clubs to produce stars and facilities of the future.

I am sure many others can advise further. However, one thing is for sure - if Labour does not listen now, then the Euro elections in 2009 will bring another bashing their way.

Mark Anderson, Middleton St George, near Darlington.

IN the aftermath of the local elections, including the contest for London Mayor, there will be perceptions of results that will suit political parties' analysis.

The Conservatives and their leader, David Cameron, will advocate a "sea of change" and while some of the results would support that notion, the real victor of the local elections was apathy.

For Labour and the Tories, the bedrock is an electorate which still mistrusts, as seen by the number of councils that remain or have become "No Overall Control".

The Tories have made some headway, but the challenge is for Labour to listen and lead. As for the Liberal Democrats, it is a reminder that they have conscience, but are nothing more than the third party whose hope of government is forlorn.

Labour and the Conservatives have experience of government.

They must act upon the banana skins they both fall foul of, including volatile markets.

A return to traditional values and being able to stand back and be robust and objective is vital, instead of falling into sleaze and corruption that will see their credibility questioned by the voter.

Bernie Walsh, Coxhoe, Durham.

THE Government is living in a fool's paradise if it thinks that the sole cause of its problems is the abolition of the 10p tax rate and our present economic difficulties; the real problem is its arrogance, that no one who holds a contrary view can be right.

Ministers promise to listen, as if this were something new, but will they learn and act?

Shall we see an end to post office closures, a change in immigration policy, a stop on identity cards, a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty?

Almost certainly "no" because the Government believes that it is right on these things and many others and the public is too stupid to see this.

We may see some movement on tax rates, but this really does emphasise the Government's arrogance; of course it realised the effect on lower incomes, but hoped those affected wouldn't notice.

Will other parties learn from this?

Probably not. The present Government learned nothing from its predecessor about sleaze and corruption and we shall continue to have governments that totally ignore public opinion.

Peter Elliott, Eaglescliffe.

WELL, all the hype is over for the next couple of years, but it is still beyond me how pensioners can still turn to and show support for New Labour.

It has been kicking pensioners when they are down since it came to power in 1997, but many forget that, saying that New Labour gave them the winter fuel allowance and they'll still vote for them over that.

None seem to remember that the winter fuel allowance was the result of a "do something quick" reaction to Gordon Brown's "massive" £0.75p pension increase he gave to pensioners in 1999 and the public's reaction to him for doing so. It wasn't given as something that merited doing.

Now, less than ten years on, he again picks on the vulnerable. This time it was the low paid whom he robs by removing the lowest tax band bracket thus making them pay more in tax on their already low wages, while the better off benefit from the tax overhaul.

Peter Dolan, Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham.

HOW much more will it take to make Gordon Brown realise that he is the most unpopular person in Britain?

This unelected Prime Minister's policies are even alarming his ardent supporters.

He has proved he is not up to the task of being the leader of government. Roll on the next general election, when the public will be given the chance to vote in someone who has the capability to govern this nation, instead of having a PM who comes across as being nothing more than a boring, old schoolmaster, who has as much flair and common sense as a discarded toothbrush.

Christopher Wardell, Darlington.

1:39pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

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