LABOUR leader James Alexander states that Andrew Waller won the Westfield by-election because he is a familiar figure in the ward compared to Labour’s newly elected candidate (The Press, October 18).

Perhaps if Mr Alexander’s colleagues had bothered to show their faces at all in the Westfield area over the past four years they might not have been so resoundingly thrashed in the by-election.

It was pathetic to see them canvassing door to door and pushing leaflets through letter boxes when they’ve done nothing for this ward.

Andrew Waller has always worked hard for Westfield and unlike Labour he tackles the issues that matter to residents. Of course he’s a familiar face in the area; it’s called doing your job.

P M Batey, Gladstone Street, Acomb, York.