A rebuttal of Nick Clegg's jibe of "65 years of failure" has come from Reading's Labour candidates, who say the achievements of Labour Governments since World War II are very real and should be recognised.
Naz Sarkar and Anneliese Dodds go on to list just ten of those achievements:
1. The formation of the NHS in 1948, and the investment since 1997 which is guaranteeing prompt and effective health care for local people
2. The introduction of Child Benefit and then, under this Government, the increases in Child Benefit and the introduction of Child Tax Credits which has meant so much to families with children.
3. The introduction by this Government of Pension Credit, winter fuel allowance and other benefits that have built on the base of the retirement pension and brought security to senior citizens.
4. The commitment of Government to prosperity and to fighting unemployment, something Labour has continued with success through this recession, and the introduction of the national minimum wage.
5. The commitment to a good education for all, not just for the few - demonstrated by the massive increase investment in our schools under this Government, and the much better results obtained by Reading's pupils.
6. The determination that people should have somewhere decent to live, laying down minimum standards, with the huge investment in home insulation under this Government and their Decent Homes programme for Council housing.
7. The liberalisation of our society, starting in the 1960s and continued under this Government, with increased tolerance and respect for one another's rights.
8. Putting into law, for the first time anywhere in the world, of a commitment to carbon reduction as an essential part of combating climate change.
9. Granting independence to India and Pakistan in 1947, starting the withdrawal from Empire and creation of a multi-racial Commonwealth, and this Government's boost to international aid to meet the UN's target.
10. Maintaining Britain's standing in the world, as a key member of NATO, the UN Security Council, the European Union
and the G20, promoting international co-operation in tackling the recession, climate change and other issues.
Naz and Anneliese say: "These are very real achievements. While we are not saying no mistakes have been made, these achievements indicate that people across Britain, including in Reading, have benefitted greatly from the election of Labour Governments committed to their welfare. For Nick Clegg to try and spin all this as failure is frankly flippant and he should just take it back."
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