ONCE again we are treated to a list of woes levelled at the last Conservative government (Letters, May 18).

I too could present such a list. For example, the wilful and near-total destruction of a world-leading private pensions industry by Gordon Brown, thereby putting thousands of hard working people into penury and reliant on state handouts.

Or the divisive selective employment tax of Jim Callaghan in the 1970s.

But, in the final analysis, the choice comes down to accepting enslavement by taxation and over-weaning bureaucracy, that is the way of those of the Labour/Liberal persuasion, and which the world has seen bankrupt the former USSR and its satellite countries.

Or there is the relative freedom created by traditional Conservative governments, including the freedom to make one's own mistakes and stand by the consequences.

No political party can provide the perfect answer but, I prefer freedom any day.

As for not many people voting Conservative these days, 30 per cent did on May 5 while 20 per cent voted Labour.

J C Potter,

Eastfield Avenue,

Haxby, York.

Updated: 11:18 Tuesday, May 24, 2005