MANY local people will agree with Pat England's criticism of Stanley Henig's political record in her letter (Citizen: June 18) "not the man I recognise".

Those of his personal friends seeking reasons for Mr Henig's humiliating and sudden political fall, should stop looking for scapegoats (namely, the Citizen, the Independents or Labour critics of Mr Henig etc.). They should face the facts: race/religious prejudice against Mr Henig was not the issue. Mr Henig's own words and actions as council leader created the negative public image, which played a big part in his downfall. Very many voters (including Labour voters) saw ex-councillor Henig as bullying, authoritarian and out of touch with most ordinary people's hopes, fears and needs. You can't blame the public for this belief. Not always, but too often, Stan Henig dismissed others opinions as "unmitigated drivel", sarcastically ridiculed those who gave him good advice, and replied to the local public's real anxieties about some council decisions, with flippant or unwise remarks. Rival political groups used Mr Henig's unpopularity in the recent council election, and of course made the most of it. But his opponents exploited a bad image of Mr Henig's own making.

From personal knowledge, I can say Pat England is a strong, active opponent of all forms of racism. Her criticisms of Mr Henig have nothing to do with his racial background and everything to do with past performance when an elected servant of the people. Still, Pat is a MBI councillor, and some people may think her remarks are biased by party-prejudice against Labour.

But I write as someone who, for over 20 years, has worked for Labour candidates in our area. In this year's council election, I helped sensible Labour candidates, standing against MBIs.

I strongly believe our area's many problems are most likely to be put right by Labour MPs and a Labour council, working closely with as well as for local people. Unfortunately Mr Henig's interpretation of Labour policies and principles was in my view, very narrow-minded, and mixed with prejudices and theories of his own, not shared by many Labour members and voters. As council leader, his limited outlook led to unnecessary divisions between Labour and the local public. Those who defend Mr Henig's record, by pointing out the real achievements made by Labour councillors, while he led them, should face facts about the defects of his leadership, and accept that Stan Henig committed political suicide.

Brian Ogston

Morecambe.

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