Barry Kaye, press officer Newton Abbot Labour Party, writes;

RE: The Three Chancellors

The viewing public were recently treated to a television debate to resolve the problems of our economy, it involved for the Lib Dems, economic guru Vince Cable, for the Tories, wannabe Chancellor George Osborne and for the government, the actual Chancellor Alistair Darling.

Whilst it was deemed by those in the know Vince Cable came out on top in the economic debate, he has of course never held a government office, never mind the Chancellorship or held the keys to the nation's moneybox. How clever the argument may be, however many papers published on the subject, it can never be a substitute for reality, and it all just ends in the shredder, the dustbin of history.

George Osborne, when questioned on his qualifications for the job of Chancellor, could only offer (quote) 'Well I watched a Chancellor for five years' (unquote), George came a poor third in the debate. Not exactly inspiring an answer, I once watched a dog groomer work for five years too, then given the job of grooming a Pyrenean mountain dog twice my size, who ended up looking like an earthquake victim, can one draw conclusions from that statement? Would anyone trust a rank amateur in the business of running our economy, the heir to a vast fortune, son of a Viscount who has never known a day's hardship? His boss, David Cameron, as Treasury Secretary under former Chancellor Norman Lamont, was responsible for 'Black Wednesday' when Britain was kicked out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) in the 1980s.

Alistair Darling, our actual Chancellor, an Edinburgh Lawyer, spoke with a quiet yet authoritative account of how the government is bringing us out of possibly the worst recession that the United Kingdom has ever faced. Alistair has held a number of government posts, and his most successful and most high profile post is as Chancellor, he is, unlike the others a seasoned and experienced government officer.

By voting Liberal Democrat or Conservative at the forthcoming General Election will ensure that in the event a hung Parliament is returned, the country may get the untried and untested Vince Cable as Chancellor. Or in the event of a Conservative government with a working majority being returned, the Chancellorship of the United Kingdom will be placed in the hands of a totally inept and unknowing wannabe, George Osborne. Or in a worst case scenario, George Osborne will be replaced by Lord Ashcroft, that well known political financial backer. Electorate, the choice is yours.