I welcome the return of Bury North MP David Chaytor to the political arena.

Clearly we can agree on the current town centre re-development and on measures such as the minimum wage.

However, in his well briefed party political broadcast (“Alternative national government would be frightening for Bury,” September 24) Mr Chaytor remained silent on my central charge that the gap between rich and poor under this government has got steadily wider and wider.

He drew attention to the Bank of England base rate currently at 0.5 per cent, which is playing havoc with anyone able to save. But do we really need guidance on mortgages from Mr Chaytor? I think not.

In my first letter of September 17, I drew attention to the culture of greed, with massive bonuses paid out to City sharks, cowboys swimming in a cesspit of pseudo-profits based on ever increasing debt which is further actively encouraged by a grateful Government clawing in the tax revenue.

Well Mr Chaytor, the bubble has burst!

What about the state of pensioners in this country? Mr Chaytor declared that they are as good as anywhere in Europe. I’d suggest that it’s easy for MPs, who are on £64,766 a year plus allowances and other perks, to say this.

But what did the European Commission have to say recently?

Pensioner poverty in the UK is more than a third higher than the European average.

It stated that even before the recession, a higher proportion of older people in the UK were living on incomes far below the national average compared to countries less developed such as Poland and Romania.

It’s a fact that pensioners experience the biggest drop in income when they retire, with average incomes slashed to 30 per cent of their last salary.

Yes, Mr Brown may have “saved the world” from total collapse, but this country is now faced with the biggest national debt in living memory.

Next year, the people of Bury will deliver their verdict on the legacy of New Labour.

Sadly I do have doubts as to whether David Cameron’s Conservatives are up to the colossal task ahead but I am certain that as Bury North MP Mr Chaytor sets sail for pastures new, his leader — “World statesman of the year — Gordon Brown will surely re-enact Custer’s last stand.

Peter Frankland Glenboro Avenue Bury