LETTER: Labour's delight

From Mr John F. Spellar, MP

Sir: Chris Davies, the Liberal Democrat MP for Littleborough and Saddleworth, claims that "Labour activists feel very unhappy indeed about the nature of the campaign they fought" (report, 8 September). Not the ones I meet. They are delighted that Labour took the battle to the Liberals and secured a spectacular second place. They also believe that it is about time that the Liberal tactics of telling voters what they think they want to hear were exposed to the heat of fierce campaigning.

The Littleborough and Saddleworth campaign demonstrated once again that there are no "no-go" areas for Labour and that we are undoubtedly a national party.

Yours sincerely,

John F. Spellar

MP for Warley West (Lab)

House of Commons

London, SW1