Tories revert to Centralisation 

Dear Editor
 
When the current Conservative Party Leader took over we were presented with a "liberal" version of conservatism we had not seen for many decades.
 
 He promised to defend civil liberties and to roll back central state control of local government.
 
How quickly the illusion has been blown away
 
The short term populism of promising a council tax freeze for two years comes at a terrible costs
 
It could only be done with the most excessive central state control of local government spending. The only choice councillors of all parties would be left to decide upon would be which  services would take the hardest hit.
 
Yes ,its great sound bit for the electorate damaged by rising costs but it exposes the Tory Party to be as autocratic and opportunist as anything New Labour has had on offer.
 
It shows a Tory Party Leader who can not look beyond the latest press headline grabbing opportunity , for those of us praying for change it is depressing
 
Cllr Steve Radford
President of The Liberal Party