WHY, with 21 seats being contested in this year's local elections in Blackburn and Darwen, are the Conservatives fielding only 12 candidates?

After all, certain Tories seemed to think that they were going to make sweeping gains in the elections, due to the council tax rises and the alleged unpopularity of the ruling Labour council.

Surely, in the light of such overwhelming evidence of the Labour councillors' 'vulnerability,' it is time for the electorate to give these people the 'order of the boot,' Is it not?

Quite frankly, the Tories to whom I am referring realise that by fielding a mere dozen candidates, they are merely cutting their losses and thereby avoiding an absolute whitewash on May 2.

All the talk about electors abstaining in protest at Blackburn Council's 'misdeeds' was absolute rubbish.

It is a well-known fact that two thirds of people who do not vote are regular 'don't-knowers' and the other third don't even vote at General Elections.

A final election message to the Blackburn Conservative Party: Put up or shut up!

JOHN MILBURN (Labour Party candidate, Ewood Ward), Laxey Road, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.