[g jones]

I was disappointed to hear this week Peter say "he had no faith in (me) as an MP and had been written directly to ministers (past tense)".

First of all I spoke to him in a kind and conciliatory way at the local elections. I wrote to him offering the hand of friendship at Westminster saying he could come down and we'd help in any way we could and look after him. The reply was 'to meet him at Scaitcliffe House' which was an improvement on the previous 'never meeting'.

Last week (9 Sept) I asked the minister for local government how many times Hyndburn Council including Peter Britcliffe had made any representations to him as minister in a Parliamentary Question and his reply is 'none' which is in Hansard and on Theyworkforyou.com.

The Council should be making representations. Hyndburn has received the biggest cuts in Britain so far.

It would appear there is no truth in the statement "written to ministers". I did not reply.

I can only reiterate; I want to work with Mr Britcliffe and I will not respond to these comments but encourage a relationship that will benefit the people who we represent.