THE letter from Paul Keetch claiming to be a party of opposition was almost identical to the one he sent in after his conference last year.

The Liberals are very good at repeating their message even if it bears no relation to the truth.

What he failed to mention was at their conference they voted to abolish the Monarchy, ban smacking, and impose compulsory sex education for seven-year-olds.

They also want higher taxes, weaker asylum rules, fewer burglars in prison and an end to our national currency. This might work in Brent but they seem to have forgotten the many years of Lib Dem misrule in Herefordshire.

These are the same Liberals who raised council tax and still managed to leave the finances of our council in tatters.

There will be much belt-tightening needed to undo their damage compounded by cuts by central Government. Instead of apologising, the Liberals want to increase the burden on council tax payers even more with local income taxes and re-banding.

Being Conservative to Conservatives and Labour to Labour supporters might work in by-elections but real opposition is about working for and delivering what is best for Britain. The Lib-Dems will never put the interest of British people before their own political ambitions, which is why they lost so many votes at the last election here.

BILL WIGGIN MP, Shadow Minister for the Environment, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA