I AM writing in reply to Cllr Beirne's letter 'I've never read such rubbish in my life' (Dear Star).

He is experienced enough to know that political rhetoric appears on leaflets, whatever party stands for elections, local or national, leading up to polling days. It is a bit rich whining about what Labour prints within their leaflets, when I have in my possession copies of the Liberal Democrats 'Focus' from various wards, handed out in the weeks leading up to the local elections, attacking local Labour policies. Under a large picture of Cllr Brian Spencer, the new Liberal Democrat Council Leader, a statement appears thus: "St Helens has been let down by a Labour-run Administration".

Underneath the picture of Cllr Spencer there are a series of pledges:

Lib Dems will ensure a cleaner environment for all: TOO LATE! Your last Labour administration had recycling as one of its top priorities, handing out bins and boxes and encouraging the people of St Helens to recycle, to meet Government targets of the future.

Lib Dems will give positive action to deal with Crime and Disorder: TOO LATE! Your last Labour administration in conjunction with the Police ensured there are extra Community Special Officers on the beat in all Wards. Youth clubs have been set up to attempt to keep youngsters occupied; alleygating and security fencing in many parts of the Borough has proved a great success and cut crime by as much as 70 per cent in some areas.

Lib Dems believe in higher standards and opportunities in Education for all: TOO LATE! Many new schools have either been built or extended within the Borough. School mergers that will bring an improved education to children, colleges like Carmel with glowing results in league tables and Sure Start schemes all over the Borough for the school children of the future.

Can anyone see a pattern here? Hardly a Labour run Council that let you down. Cllr Beirne and his colleagues may think some victories have been scored in the Council Chambers, but the above shows the hard act they have to follow. A hard act that has been acknowledged time and time again with countless awards and low council taxes year on year.

Whatever you claim to achieve in the next year; it will have been done with Labour money from a Labour Government in a third term and what you choose to do with that money will be judged by the people of St Helens who will be interested to see how the Lib Dems fare.

Letters like Cllr Beirne's only insults the intelligence of the St Helens voters. These are not swayed by political rhetoric alone. They made their choices and the result has been a hung council. I am sure there will be many people within the Borough who are very interested to what 'progress' can be made. Your time starts now.

AMM, St Helens Resident (name and address supplied).