I HAVE read the latest letter from former councillor Julie Higson (April 11) and, ordinarily, I would let such things pass without comment. However, her recollections of her activities as a councillor are wildly exaggerated.

She claims that she was hard working, yet as a local Labour Party member my memories are of a councillor who refused to hold surgeries, had as her only direct contact a premium rate mobile number, and who never campaigned for the Party. In short she was a disappointment.

Her attacks on Ivan Lewis and Tony Blair are sadly par for the course from someone who has scant regard for the notion of collective responsibility in government, nor had due consideration for the views of local members when a councillor.

Ms Higson may again reply that she does not know me -- I wouldn't be surprised, even though I live in the ward that she represented. But unlike her I did -- and still do -- attend my local meetings. Nor do I recall bumping in to the "hard-working" councillor in either the 2001 General Election campaign, when she was still a councillor, nor in the 2002 local election campaign in support of her successor.

Many of us in the Labour Party are proud to have a Prime Minister with the conviction and courage of Tony Blair, and we are also lucky to have, in Ivan Lewis, a local MP who works tirelessly for his constituents.

Ms Higson claims that she awaits a response from her MP on your Letters page. Ivan Lewis has publicly explained his reasoning on a number of occasions both in print and in interviews he has given.

The liberation of Iraq from the evil tyrant Saddam fills me with joy. I am proud that we, as a nation, had the courage to take action. If the likes of Ms Higson had her way this dictator would still be torturing hundreds of thousands of his opponents and killing the innocent families of those who disobeyed him.

In closing can I suggest that Ms Higson resigned as a councillor because it was better to jump than be pushed. I was certainly delighted by her decision to go and am looking forward to voting for Maggie Gibb on May 1, someone who will work for the people of St Mary's ward.

ADRIAN PALMER,

Stanley Avenue

South, Prestwich.