WELL said, Sean Harkin, in your letter of July 6. You are absolutely correct in your assumption that any political party losing control of a council, when the National Audit Commission classed the services provided to the people of Bolton by a Labour council as excellent, is bound to be very disappointed.

Nevertheless, we have to understand we in the Labour Party have lost some tremendous talent from the council, some by natural retirement, others beaten at the ballot box in the democratic process. This, of course, is not just a loss to our political party, but also to the town of Bolton which we all love.

We in the Labour Party can hold our heads very high in the knowledge that, under the leadership of Cllr Bob Howarth, and his deputy, Cllr Guy Harkin, over many years they led a very strong team whose only objective was to serve the people of Bolton "which they did with distinction".

We are blessed to have a very strong team of candidates which we can put forward at any time for election to office, knowing that they have gone through a very strict selection process; they must have been a member of the party for a certain period of time, they are then given a written examination, after which they are interviewed, to ensure they would make competent councillors, by a team from outside of Bolton.

Yes, Sean, you and I have sound reasons to be optimistic, we have a strong Labour Group within the present council, and also a top class team waiting to make a political comeback (we will return).

John Hartshorne

Blackledge Street

Daubhill