Sir, We are all members of the current Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet. The past few weeks have been turbulent and challenging for the Liberal Democrats. Our party has faced considerable difficulties from a major media onslaught.

In this context, the outstanding result for Willie Rennie and his team in Dunfermline is the clearest possible reply to our critics who have been so quick to write us off.

The next major crossroads for the party is the election of a new leader in early March. We are all supporters of Ming Campbell’s leadership bid. Having worked closely with him, we believe he possesses the experience, judgment and credibility to preside over significant new advances in our party’s fortunes. He possesses the undoubted authority to expose the superficial charms of David Cameron and provide principled liberal opposition to an increasingly illiberal, centralising new Labour Government.

We urge the party to give him its wholehearted backing.

VINCENT CABLE
NICK CLEGG
ED DAVEY
DAVID LAWS
SARAH TEATHER
ALISTAIR CARMICHAEL
NORMAN LAMB
MICHAEL MOORE
ANDREW GEORGE
NORMAN BAKER
TOM BRAKE
DON FOSTER
JOHN THURSO

Sir, Parliamentary democracy began in this country when in 1295 Edward I called a parliament to obtain the money he needed to fight his many wars which could only provided by the localities — the Commons. Yet, for the past 60 years successive governments have been transferring power from local to central government and it is timely that Dunfermline & West Fife has given them a reminder of the importance of local government.

The response of government spokesmen is to complain about elections being determined by local issues. They should recognise the instinctive resentment the electors have about the removal of power from local government.

Tip O’Neill, the long-standing House of Congress, Speaker, observed that all politics is local government. The US, the most successful democracy in the world, is built on strong local government not subservient to central government.

IAN J. HARTILL
Chandlers Ford, Hants

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