I think the Stoke-on-Trent South MP Jack Brereton was rather misleading in his dig at the Guardian (Letters, 15 January) for not mentioning that the recent so-called turnaround in the city was down to his Tory party locally and nationally. He neglected to mention that he was the cabinet member who oversaw deep cuts to Stoke-on-Trent’s local services, including our children’s centres, social care and homelessness support. It is the current Conservative administration that has wasted tens of millions of pounds of council reserves to the detriment of the city’s long-term financial security.

Much of what Mr Brereton cited as improvements to the city are the legacy of Labour’s actions in power, including the creation of the central business district and cultural quarter, the district heating network, the relocation of Staffordshire University and the drive for better housing and jobs in the city.

The Tories also have a legacy in Stoke-on-Trent, of course. It can be seen in the faces and the daily struggles of former miners and steelworkers left to fend for themselves by the Thatcher government, and now put in jeopardy by this government’s heartless reforms to social security. If Mr Brereton is really serious about improving the lives of people in our city, it is this legacy he should be seeking to come to terms with.

Cllr Mohammed Pervez

Leader of Stoke-on-Trent Labour group



• Jack Brereton omitted to refer to the cuts which are “on the up” to the extent of £34m over the next two years, in addition to the £172m already inflicted on the city since 2010.

Oddly, in mentioning the “positive impact” of the new administration, he fails to make reference to the £2.4m cut in adult care services, the £1.29m cut in children’s services or the £1m cut in provision for the homeless, which do not quite appear to bear out his claim of a “tremendous turnaround” in the city’s ambition – unless, of course, the “tremendous turnaround” is intended to be in a reverse direction.

Jeremy Beecham

Labour, House of Lords

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