SIR: This is a tribute to our out-going MP Mr David Young.

He served the constituency of Bolton South East for 14 years and before that the former constituency of Bolton East. During those years I have contacted him on many occasions and never once did he fail to produce results, often better than expected.

He did not only win all the six general elections that he stood in but he increased his majority each time. Politics is said to be a dirty game but never once has he stooped to anything that could be remotely regarded as below the belt. When in Parliament surrounded by sleaze and corruption he stood like the Braveheart Scotsman that we could all feel proud of. He phoned me from London on a number of occasions, the only MP that ever thought I mattered. He is a very thoughtful person and even when things were not going well at Burnden Park, he stepped in to make sure that the 'Lion of Vienna' got the acknowledgement he deserved while other MPs more akin to the club stood idly by.

All that remains is for me to wish him and his wife, Vera, a long and enjoyable retirement.

Arthur Devlin, Glynne Street, Farnworth

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