Conservative leader David Cameron talked about "an age of austerity" at the weekend, but I would ask austerity for whom?

Mr Cameron won't commit to spending a single penny more on helping the unemployed, but will commit to spending billions of pounds – through tax cuts – on those earning more than £150,000 a year.

Many families in South Shields benefited from the £145 cut for basic-rate taxpayers. Mr Cameron opposed this, but supports a tax giveaway to the wealthiest 3,000 estates.

That's not austere – it's just unfair.

I am proud this Labour government has put more police officers on the beat, supported our local hospitals and given our young people the very best start in life by investing in our schools.

Mr Cameron's talk of austerity is designed to disguise his real plans for cuts. The Tories need to be straight and say where they would make cuts.

Unlike the Tories, I am in favour of continuing to give real help to hard-working families in South Shields.

There are clear differences between Mr Cameron's Tories and Labour.

Many families in South Shields have benefited from the cut in VAT, the increase in tax allowances, the £60 cash boost for pensioners during the winter months, the trebling of cold-weather payments to vulnerable pensioners, and the above-inflation increase in the children's element of child tax credits.

Mr Cameron opposed all of these when they were proposed.

We have much to be proud about in South Shields.

Our teachers, doctors, nurses and emergency service officers continue to go the extra mile to deliver for local residents.

Our young people are achieving their best ever exam results.

I can assure Gazette readers that Labour will continue to deliver for hard-working families in South Shields.