Cllr James McMurray, of Willow Street, ?Teignmouth, writes:

I would like to respond to comments made by the MP for Bexhill and Battle, Energy Minister Greg Barker, who called my defection 'a cheap political statement' and spewed the usual Conservative party line that the economy is improving.

Well, Mr Barker, tell that to the people who are increasingly turning to food banks because they cannot rely on the income they receive from their zero hours contract. Tell that to the increased number of people who are now shopping in budget supermarkets to try to make their money go a little bit further.

Personally, I find it a bit rich coming from somebody who reportedly has an estimated personal fortune of nearly £4 million and who once worked for Roman Abramovich.

As a teacher, I am fortunate that I earn a salary that is approximately in line with the UK average, but following the budget announcements in March and factoring in inflation I am actually worse off than I was before, unless I start drinking lots of beer and playing bingo.

For the vast majority of people in this country, the economy isn't improving and I'm fed up with being told that it is by wealthy Oxbridge educated MPs and that is one of the reasons why I left the Conservatives.

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