freedom issue

IN response to the letter from Latiq Subbaram of Salisbury Street in which he referred to the absence of Asian councillors on our council.

I agree that there are a great deal of Asians in the districts that he mentioned, some of whom are neighbours of mine in the Halliwell area, but it doesn't matter what race or creed you are when it comes to the vote sir!

In past elections we have had Asian and other "non-white" candidates in our area and others but they have not got elected because the electorate in those areas have not voted for them.

In our area last year we also had a candidate from the National Front but he wasn't elected either, and there are considerably more whites than Asians I can assure you.

If Mr Subbaram is so impressed in the make-up of the council in Blackburn, Rochdale and Oldham perhaps he should consider a move there.

I also note that he seems to blame all this on the incumbent Labour Party. Doesn't that smack a little of an underlying conservatism perhaps?

I should also point out to Mr Subbaram that he and others have more freedom to vote for whosoever they desire than they would have in the majority of eastern countries.

Trevor Lester,

Farnham Close,

Halliwell.