LABOUR spin, a little like bird flu but much more pervasive and aggressive, travels the world making people feel confused and often abused.

Now there have been sightings in my home town of Redditch as a spinning Jacqui Smith MP and her cohort of councillors spread misinformation about the Conservatives.

They claim, ludicrously, that we have tried to gag Ms Smith with regard to the campaign to prevent any transfer of services from the Alexandra Hospital.

It is a fact that I wrote to Ms Smith in November, in robust style, insisting she join the fight to keep open all the services at the Alex and I issued a challenge to her to reveal to us all what she has done and achieved at Westminster to help our cause.

It is of no surprise, to me at least, that I have been deafened by silence.

Yes, we did raise questions about whether she had broken any Parliamentary rules and yes, after an investigation, she was found not to be able to pay for some of her postage out of Parliamentary expenses.

For this we make no apology.

As recent events demonstrate, we all have a responsibility to watch New Labour very closely.

However, Ms Smith, not only do we want you to campaign with us on the hospital issue, we demand it.

Cut the Spin, not our services.

COLIN MacMILLAN

Chairman

Redditch Conservative Association

Worcester Road

Bromsgrove