Nostalgic look back

I enjoy reading the Shropshire Star particularly the nostalgia stories and pictures which encourage us to look back and reflect. So let us reflect on pre 1997 and afterwards.

Before 1997 and the election of a Labour government we had millions unemployed, the national debt was up, interest rates high, the number of children in poverty had trebled, teacher numbers had fallen, hospital waiting lists were still rising and beds were cut.

There were 1.5 million home owners in negative equity, police numbers had fallen and crime had doubled. Youth unemployment was rising, pensioners had to pay for eye tests and to use local public transport.

Let's compare that to now, with unemployment at its lowest for decades and youth unemployment cut thanks to the New Deal. We have a national minimum wage, record investment in hospitals, schools and police, and crime falling. Over two million children have been brought out of poverty.

There has in fact been the longest period of sustained economic growth, with interest rates at their lowest, for decades. Sometimes we need reminding how things have changed.

Cllr Richard Overton, Telford