SIR: It has been suggested by the Bolton Evening News that I used a visit to Beloit Walmsley to talk about a strike there led by the Labour candidate for Bolton North East. This is totally untrue, I never discussed the strike with any journalist. I also face accusations from Labour that I used 'nasty tactics' in visiting Beloit Walmsley.
Again, this is untrue as all candidates were invited to visit by the management. Anyway, in all honesty, it should not matter whether the company's union convenor is the Labour candidate.
However, now the Labour candidate has raised the issue of the strike, it is true that he led a strike. Only when his union intervened nationally was the dispute settled.
The 'good' relations that currently exist, and the excellent performance of UK Companies in general, is due to the Conservative trade union reforms he resisted and which his party would reform or abolish.
Robert Wilson
Conservative Party Candidate
Conservative Campaign Headquarters
Princess Street, Bolton
Editor's note: The information contained in the report was provided by a member of Mr Wilson's canvassing team.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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