Letter: Labour hopefuls have own minds

Sir: We write having read your survey of Labour prospective parliamentary candidates (30 September).

We are called upon every day by newspapers and pressure groups to respond to surveys on a wide variety of questions. Of course we sometimes seek advice from Head Office on matters of policy but the answers we give and the opinions we express are our own.

It would be much more helpful if we were asked for our opinions rather than to give a simple yes/no answer to questions which newspapers believe will reveal divisions in the Labour Party.

The truth is the Labour Party is a united dynamic party ready to solve the problems this country faces, as this week's conference will show.

CANDY ATHERTON LORNA FITZSIMMONS MELANIE JOHNSON TOM LEVITT

SHONA McISAAC

MALCOLM SAVIDGE PHIL WOOLAS CHARLOTTE ATKINS SALLY KEEBLE GORDON MARSDEN MARGARET MORAN DEBRA SHIPLEY JIM FITZPATRICK BARBARA FOLLETT RUTH KELLY SIOBHAN McDONAGH CHRIS POND

PHYLLIS STARKEY

Blackpool