SIR,

Your last publication carried an article on the selection of Mark Whitcutt as the Labour Party candidate for Monmouth, in next year's Welsh Assembly Government elections.

Like so many of your readers, I was surprised at his attributed comment "...stop the Tories taking Monmouth for granted".

May I remind Mr Whitcutt at the recent General Election, David Davies MP was returned to Westminster – by the will of the electorate of Monmouth – with a massively increased majority of 10,400 votes.

His majority actually increased by over 6,000 votes from the 2005 election result. It is the biggest Conservative majority in Wales.

Gordon Brown's Labour Government brought the UK economy (the world's sixth largest) to near bankruptcy.

The people of this country – including the people of Monmouth – delivered their verdict on his fiscal record last May. They need no empty political soundbites from Mr Whitcutt.

Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) has been hamstrung by a succession of derisory funding settlements from the Labour controlled Welsh Assembly Government (WAG).

MCC are to be applauded for their sterling efforts in maintaining public services in this constituency with one of the lowest council grants in Wales.

There is every reason to expect they will continue to provide 'best value' in these difficult times.

Contrary to Mr Whitcutt's comments, only by returning a Conservative Assembly Minister (AM) at WAG elections next year can we ensure an effective voice in Cardiff to continue the fight for more funding for services in Monmouth.

Nick Ramsay AM, shadow minister for finance has provided formidable opposition to the spending chaos of the Labour/ Plaid administration in Cardiff (lets not forget about that 'unholy' political alliance, which does little to serve the needs of the people of Monmouth).

Nick has worked closely with MCC in the best interests of all of the electorate of Monmouth.

They of course, will make a democratic decision, next May, based on Nick's record as a constituency AM – which has been impressive.

He fully understands Monmouth constituents and their issues.

His political maturity and his ability as a locally accountable, national politician, wholly justifies his shadow cabinet appointment. Nick serves Monmouth well.

Mr Whitcutt would also do well to listen to – and understand – the electorate of Monmouth and resist the temptation to rely on Labour Party rhetoric, trumpeted by 'yesterday's men'.

Chris Titchener

(Chairman, Monmouth Conservatives)