Liberal Democrats should stop moaning

SIR – I have just read the unfortunate way in which the Liberal Democrats have decided to attack our MP. Their spokesman seems to think that Mr Shapps ought to be cancelling engagements with local residents and organisations in order to vote on a private

SIR - I have just read the unfortunate way in which the Liberal Democrats have decided to attack our MP.

Their spokesman seems to think that Mr Shapps ought to be cancelling engagements with local residents and organisations in order to vote on a private member's bill which was unlikely to pass anyway.

I can understand that the Lib Dems would rather Mr Shapps spent less time being a proper constituency MP - it would make it easier for them to campaign without someone who's so well respected by the community hanging around.

But wouldn't it be better for the Lib Dems (whose numbers seem to be dwindling in this area anyway), and particularly their Parliamentary candidate, to concentrate on saying what he'd do in the job, rather than moaning about what our current MP does? That would allow us something to vote on. If he continues down the 'not Shapps' line, I think I can predict where it'll get him.

Rhiannon Jordan,

Harvest Mead, Hatfield.