DEAR oh dear. Less than one month since I was selected as York's Conservative Parliamentary candidate and Coun Blanchard (Letters, April 16) says the Tories are a spent force in York. Bless him.

Readers may wonder why a local councillor had to write on his MP's behalf.

They may also wonder why, 'since everything is going so well in the city', the Evening Press carried a picture of a woman vomiting in the street on its front page last month; why residents, shop keepers and volunteer groups are appalled at draconian parking restrictions; and why, in spite of so much more money being made available to the NHS, Stanley Spencer has had a major operation cancelled ten times at York Hospital because there is no ICU bed available for him.

York can do better than this. Now is the time I need good men and women to come to the aid of the party. I can't do it on my own.

Fortunately there is good news. More young people have joined the Conservative Party, as members of Conservative Future, than have joined the Labour Party and LibDems combined.

Whatever one's stance on the merits of the war in Iraq, best wishes to the members of 201 Northern Field Hospital stationed in Strensall Barracks who are flying to serve in Basra at the end of April.

As British Armed Forces have so perfectly demonstrated keeping the peace is an infinitely more subtle and complex task than winning a war. Spare a thought for their families too. Here's to their safe return.

Clive Booth,

Ash Street,

Holgate, York.

...COUN Blanchard suggests that York's Tory parliamentary candidate Clive Booth should not waste his time promoting his party. Since when was a man condemned for trying?

He is a York man and this gives him the right to write in his local newspaper and to stand for election when it is announced.

We should be proud that we can attract men of high calibre and ideals who think York is worth fighting for.

Councillor Blanchard mentions the lack of Tory councillors, but forgets to mention his party lost quite a lot of seats to the Liberals. Competition is healthy, it stops complacency and voters' apathy. Coun Blanchard gives the impression that he and his party are insecure. He could be right.

For Blair the honeymoon period is over and, like his party, he will be judged by improvements in services.

Dorothy Dawson,

York Conservative Association,

Ash Street,

York.

Updated: 11:15 Wednesday, April 21, 2004