It may be vanity politics but it's a hard-won right

REQUESTING voters be given the chance to elect a representative for nearly two years of a four-year council term may be vanity politics in Cllr Rod Kennedy s Conservative philosophy, but in mine it s exercising a hard-won right. It would seem Parliament a

REQUESTING voters be given the chance to elect a representative for nearly two years of a four-year council term may be vanity politics in Cllr Rod Kennedy's Conservative philosophy, but in mine it's exercising a hard-won right.

It would seem Parliament and councils up and down the country share this view, whether electing another representative alters the political balance of power or not.

In the face of criticism some Tories always trot out the well-worn cliche about their critics not attending meeting nor putting themselves as candidates. So far no law has been passed against free speech.

I think to suggest that co-opting a new councillor instead of holding an election when there is genuine evidence for one, illustrates just how serious an effect monopoly politics can have on its participants.

HAZEL LORD

High Street

Bassingbourn