DR Abdul Jaleel stated: “The mind boggles as to why a Labour PM and his overworked Cabinet should find time to visit our region so near to a General Election” (HAS, Feb 22).

I can answer this statement with three simple letters – B, N and P. Our region has been decimated by Labour and the Tories before them. We have seen our industries crumble, our jobs shipped abroad, our work ethic and pride destroyed.

Gordon Brown and his band of merry “persons” were here for their Cabinet meeting in the North-East last week simply for electioneering purposes using taxpayers’ money.

However, after 13 years, their false promises are too little, too late. The people of the North-East deserve better and in the British National Party they see “old” Labour values. These are values which have been lost since the invention of New Labour, which cares very little about the working man/woman.

Mr Brown and his Government are the boys who have cried wolf far too often and they will suffer for their complacency and incompetence come the General Election.

Adam Walker, BNP Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Bishop Auckland.