Dear Peter: You announced recently your decision to become a Liberal Democrat, having resigned from the Conservative Party last February. Although I was disappointed to hear this, I cannot say I was surprised, I had been expecting it for some time. Telltale signs, such as calling on people in Bolton to vote Liberal Democrat in the local elections, gave it away.
Journalists at Westminster had also been kind enough to tell me about the clandestine negotiations with Paddy Ashdown and the desire to make the announcement at a time that would cause maximum damage to your former Party.
There are several things that concern me though. Your attempt to make this move appear in some way honourable. There is nothing honourable about turning on the people who have worked night and day for you over the past 13 years and kicking them in the teeth. They gave you their unstinting support in the belief that you were genuine about your Conservative beliefs.
When you said some two years ago that you would leave politics, they expected you to mean it. They did not expect to find you grubbing around in Westmorland & Lonsdale for a safe seat. They trusted you at your word - but, the crux was that Bolton just wasn't safe enough for you any more.
If you are honest, this is the essence of all your bitterness - you fought a difficult marginal seat for thirteen years and held it. You felt that this entitled you to the safe Conservative seat of your choice. When Westmorland said no to your application and the Prime Minister explained that the party didn't operate in such a dishonest way you felt slighted. Since then, your sole intention has been to wreak maximum damage on the Conservative Party.
I admire the hard work you have undertaken in the constituency and your work for the disabled. I would rather remember you for this contribution rather than the shabby way you have treated colleagues and friends. Despite everything, I wish you well and hope that you find something worthwhile and rewarding after politics.
Robert Wilson
Prospective Conservative Candidate
for Bolton North-east
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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