SIR: I admire Peter Thurnham's decision to abandon a lost cause. He had to contend with back-stabbing as well as a lame duck government.

My only concern is why did he join a Mickey Mouse political party? Surely remaining on the side would have been the best option.

The biggest regret is that Bolton North East is going to lose a fine Member of Parliament. This is one seat that surely will fall to the new middle class Labour Party.

Michael Whelan

Hilly Croft

Bromley Cross

Bolton

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.