Letter: Why Labour did bother

NIGEL LICKLEY bothered to stand for Labour in Christchurch since you do not withdraw from the game just because you are not going to win ('Why did he bother?', 1 August). Labour is never going to win seats like Christchurch whereas Liberal Democrats are the sweet that Tories can eat between general elections. The voters were not espousing Lib Dem values: they think Major is a weak leader and not right-wing enough.

Neither Newbury nor Christchurch provide a shred of evidence that the Lib Dems are poised to sweep the West Country in three or four years' time. Had the two recent by- elections just happened to have been in seats where Labour was the main challenger, your article would have had a different message.

David J Cole

Dunmow, Essex