FIRE SERVICE FIGURES REVEAL LABOUR'S NEGELCT OF DERBYSHIRE

Paul Holmes, Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield has today revealed figures that show that since New Labour came to power in 1997, the number of fire-fighters in Derbyshire has been slashed by three times the national average -from 90 per 100,000 population to 81compared to the national average of 89 per 100,000

Commenting Paul Holmes MP said,

"These figures are indicative of New Labour's neglect of the people of Derbyshire. After eleven years of a New Labour Government and twenty seven years of misrule at County Hall people in Derbyshire are struggling to understand why New Labour seem content to ignore and neglect them."

"Derbyshire residents are now used to New Labour's approach after years of under funding, an under funded police service, under funded councils and an under funded fire service.

"People in Derbyshire are becoming increasingly exasperated with New Labour's obsession with what goes on in the Westminster bubble and their lack of interest in the needs of ordinary people."

"The figures revealed in answer to my parliamentary question only serve as proof that Derbyshire has joined the growing legion of Labour's forgotten counties."

ENDS

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