SIR: I am writing in response to Canon Wolstencroft's article 'Beware the politicians, vicar warns' (BEN, October 3).

Canon Wolstencroft regrets: "The way that politicians with any integrity seem to be stifled from speaking the truth". If any other group of people were lumped together in this way, people would think that the writer was being unfair. If I were to say, for example, that 'the clergy are out of touch with the real world', I should be criticised, yet this is obviously true of some church leaders.

I know local politicians of all parties who spend their free time, on a voluntary basis, trying very hard to help people in trouble with housing, social services, education, leisure and planning. Councillors take on board other cases outside the council remit to assist with medical, financial, transport and vandalism problems. Constituents approach their councillors at all hours and on all the days of the year. Christmas Day is no exception - it is a day when many people would have nowhere else to turn.

I hope that Canon Wolstencroft will show a bit more charity to the politicians of integrity who carry on with their day-to-day tasks, often without media cover, to deal with matters where 'party lines' are irrelevant.

Cllr Barbara Ronson

Lib Dem PPC, Bolton West

Lower Makinson Fold, Horwich

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