RECENTLY, Labour celebrated an unprecedented ten years in power.

We will always have our critics - many of whom regularly write into this letters page - but it's worth pointing out that despite much more to do, we have achieved a great deal.

We introduced the national minimum wage, which brought millions out of poverty.

There are over two million more people in work than in 1997. With nearly two million pensioners lifted out of absolute poverty, we're now spending £11 billion extra in real terms on pensioners; coupled with investment of more than £17 billion on early years and childcare provision.

We have trebled the health budget in cash terms - since 1997 we now have 79,000-plus more nurses and 36,000-plus more doctors. Ten years ago, half the NHS estate was built before the NHS itself - it is now down to a quarter, thanks to the largest sustained hospital building programme since its founding. We have 152 new hospitals.

Since 1997, cancer death rates are down 15.7 per cent, saving over 50,000 lives, and death rates from heart disease are down by 35.9 per cent - saving nearly 150,000 lives.

With more than 14,000 extra police officers and nearly 16,000 community support officers recruited since 1997, the independent British Crime Survey shows that, while crime doubled under the Tories, under Labour overall crime is down 35 per cent.

From improved maternity leave and pay and paid paternity leave, to the public sector duties to promote race, disability and gender equality, to civil partnerships, Labour has done more than any other Government to support opportunity for all, whatever gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief.

I think this is a record to be proud of. I am proud to be a Labour councillor.

Coun Paul Blanchard, Chaucer Lane, York.