INSTEAD of cutting public services we urgently need to tackle our over dependence on the financial services sector and build the new businesses, the new jobs and the new economy that our country and town needs.

The root cause of the current economic crisis is the over reliance of our economy on the banks. Northern Rock, RBS, Lehman Brothers, Ice Save collapsed like a pack of cards, putting this country and the world into economic meltdown.

The focus of the Tories and Liberals on cutting public services and blaming the public sector is completely unreasonable and the wrong approach. It is utterly unfair that the police, our schools, and our hospitals pay the price of cuts and the poor, the elderly and the vulnerable suffer; while the banks appear to get away scot free.

The Tories and Liberals economic strategy is failing. The economy is deteriorating and unemployment is now at 2.5 million and spiralling upwards towards three million; just as it did the last time the Tories were in power.

We need a clear plan for the economic future of Swindon. One area that provides a source of hope and a potential way forward is the growth of green collar jobs. Employment in the environmental sector has been growing at seven per cent since the year 2000, while the wind energy sector has seen a 91 per cent leap in employment over the last three years, and now employs more people than the coal industry.

Swindon should position itself at the heart of this Green New Deal so that we can take advantage of these new green collar jobs. The European Union has already committed to three million green collar jobs by 2020. We should seize the opportunities that will arrive as a result of the need to tackle Climate Change and become a centre for renewable energy, energy efficiency; and low carbon industries.

Swindon’s Economic Plan should be focused on bringing the businesses and the jobs of the future to Swindon. We need to find new ways of encouraging modern manufacturing and new technologies to our town.

A university for Swindon should be at the heart of our economic plan for Swindon. A university would drive economic regeneration by attracting new businesses, providing new skills and bringing new jobs to the town.

The economic strategy of Swindon should be based on building growth and prosperity for the future and not cutting services. This is the challenge we must meet and it is a call me must answer.

COUN MARK DEMPSEY Labour, Parks Ward Thornhill Drive Swindon