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SIR, — Once again we see the Tories true colours emerging, after their favourite think-tank, Policy Exchange, said that cities such as Liverpool have failed and that paying those who live there to move down south is the only sensible option. Successive

SIR, - Once again we see the Tories' true colours emerging, after their favourite think-tank, Policy Exchange, said that cities such as Liverpool have failed and that paying those who live there to move down south is the only sensible option.

Successive governments have failed to support many local councils in trying to rejuvenate their local and regional economies. Instead, many have been reduced to watching money and attention being poured into already-bulging areas such as St Albans and the corridor south to London.

Policy Exchange says that the heavy population-pressure on the south and east of the country should be redoubled, putting further strain on public services, tarmacking over more green spaces and more pristine countryside, ruining forever the character of our existing villages, market-towns, and cities.

The Green Party says the exact opposite. We say that pressure should be taken off the over-heating south and east of this country, and that regional development pressures should be directed to those parts of the country that actually need it, such as parts of the north - eg Liverpool and some north-eastern metropolitan areas - while still rejuvenating our inner-city estates.

It is insane to be concreting over the London Green Belt, and to be turning cities like St Albans and its already diminishing Green Belt into further commuter-belt when there is a much greater need for employment in parts of the north and already-existing-housing there just waiting to be used.

Meanwhile Labour's horrified reaction to the think-tank's report runs contrary to the fact that thousands of square miles of the south east are already designated for new development.

SIMON GROVER,

Central St Albans candidate, St Albans District Green Party.