CLEARLY your correspondent Ken Millin was unhappy to see the Conservatives win the two Swindon Parliamentary seats and he was equally dissatisfied that Labour could only manage to take back two Council seats (SA 14 May). He questions the reason why this happened and as is typical he reverts to a history lesson which only encompasses what are known as the 'Thatcher Years' - ignoring the Callaghan years with its Winter of Discontent and that priceless of all quotes 'Crisis - what crisis?'

Mr Millin, for whom the truth is clearly not important then suggests that the incoming government will cancel free bus passes and take away winter heating allowances. Might I suggest he reads the terms of the Conservative Contract in which David Cameron has repeated his commitment to retaining both of these benefits.

Mr Cameron promised that amongst his first actions would be a reduction in the pay of Government ministers and that the reduced pay would be applicable for a period of five years - he has announced this action on the first full day of Government.

He also announced that future increases to the basic state pension would be linked to the higher of earnings, inflation or 2.5 per cent - Labour promised to take action but in thirteen years all they had to show for their talk was a sneaky decision to exclude the second state pension from any increase whatsoever.

The former Labour Chancellor, Mr Darling made it quite clear that 'under a new Labour Government' the cuts and tax increases necessary to remedy the deficit would be harder and tougher than those experienced under Thatcher - so much for condemning her regime.

It is quite easy for Mr Millin to warn about a 'tax tidal wave' but at least be honest and acknowledge that Labour plans offered no alternative, unless you think that there would never have been a need to repay borrowed money.

DES MORGAN Caraway Drive Swindon