Local issues are often national issues

SIR,

Roy Garner's misguided comments ('Sandison ducks Labour's record', 10th March) insult intelligent people who are serious about the most important general election for years.

His attacks on Hamish Sandison, the Labour Candidate, simply demonstrate his determination to ignore Labour's many progressive innovations that have improved life at work and at home. He should thank Hamish for focusing so effectively on national and local issues, unlike MP David Davies, whose mind seems to be elsewhere.

What Roy Garner conveniently forgets when criticising Hamish Sandison is that Hamish highlights local examples of truly national issues which demonstrate the incompetence of the Tory county council. Local issues are often national issues in close-up, and whether it is recycling, the economy, the NHS, or education, it is the approach and judgement of Hamish Sandison that I find the more convincing. As regards Monmouth constituency issues, Hamish is right to criticise constructively the Tory council's catalogue of poor decision-making which is regularly reported in the media.

Finally, Roy Garner's attempt at character assassination of a brave and thoroughly honourable trade union leader who cannot answer for himself is beneath contempt.

Christine Walby

Llanfihangel Crucorney