COUN John Galvin knows as much about medicine as he does the policies of his own party (Letters, January 7).

In 2005, the Conservative Party manifesto pledged to match Labour’s public spending pound for pound.

Just a year before the global economic crisis of 2008, then Shadow Chancellor George Osborne called on the Government to deregulate the banks.

Considering the Government’s recent contribution to the bailing-out of the Irish economy to the tune of £7 billion, should the Conservatives have won in 2005 they would have been forced to take the same difficult actions which faced Labour in 2008.

A deficit was unavoidable. What is avoidable is the timing and scale of cuts, and the regressive attacks on the vulnerable.

These cuts are based on ideological principle; scaling back the state by blaming the poorest, attacking the disabled, unemployed, elderly and children – all while ensuring the defining historic Conservative policy remains making the rich richer and the poor poorer.

I’m not aware of any treatment for a selective amnesia, but if there were, Coun Galvin should be given a repeat prescription.

Dan Sidley, Labour candidate for Fishergate ward, York Labour Party, Holgate Road, York.