WITH regard to the letter from the three local Conservative candidates titled Work figures (HAS, Jan 26).

They mentioned that there are now 32.35 million people in the UK in work. A figure that they say has increased by 3.5 million since 2010, and they all have the security of a wage packet. These three political candidates also say that in the three constituencies of Bishop Auckland, Darlington and Stockton South, a total of 1,680 fewer people are claiming benefits for being out of work since 2010.

Well for one thing (as your regular correspondent to HAS Stephen Dixon has pointed out in the past) the Conservatives have cooked the books and manipulated these figures by first not including the thousands of 16 to 21-year-olds who are not in full time employment, education or training otherwise known as NEETS.

Secondly the long and tiring mistake of the transition from Job Seekers Allowance and Income Support will mean that that is virtually impossible to include thousands of these in the figures that the Conservatives have manipulated.

Also, if these figures happen to be somewhere near, give or take a few thousand, this still does not excuse the booming use of foodbanks, fuel poverty, lack of affordable housing and low wages in this region.

Would the Conservative candidate for Bishop Auckland Dehenna Davison-Fareham like to accompany me around the Bishop Auckland area, and I will show her the obvious signs of lack of affordable social housing (boarded up and empty houses) also the two food banks, neglected roads, pavements, recreation grounds, play areas and fly tipping hot spots.

Does the song “The Land of Make Believe” by Bucks Fizz ring true with these three Conservative candidates?

Stephen Hadden, Bishop Auckland