Re: ‘Labour pin election hopes on Dempsey’. (Adver July 12). Here we go again! Same old candidates-different faces. Each of whom has a ‘Vision’. (Why don’t they fast-track themselves into preaching instead?).

They all intend to work ‘tirelessly’ for their constituents.

Candidate Dempsey says he'll focus his campaign on a stronger economy and more jobs, and oh! nearly forgot, a better future for young people. As if all other parties will be totally ignoring the growth of the economy!

Why haven’t New Labour offered us a working -class candidate? Someone who has actually sweated for a living and gone home dog tired and then out of duty went along to a Trades Union meeting?

A working class fellow whose job security has been undermined, prospects in life greatly diminished and working conditions reduced to almost Victorian times; perhaps even lost his home?

What’s the difference between Dempsey and Cameron and Co? None whatsoever! Neither have held down a proper job it seems; both have been ‘advisors’ or ‘researchers’ of some description. Beats sweating for a living along with aches and pains.

Ed Milliband recently stated that, like Cameron, he has no intention if ever coming to power of curtailing immigration. In short it’s still a free-for-all!

Working class views are increasingly being ignored. They have been utterly betrayed by the patronising elitism of the Labour Party.

It seems to me all that all these prospective MPs share one thing in common: to look after Number One.

As Frank Avenell so aptly observed: we live in a sick joke of a democracy. Amen.

J Adams Bloomsbury Swindon

Below standard

I cannot understand Cllr Bluh making excuses for the contractors not cutting the grass around the town.

Surely the contractors are paid to cut the verges whatever the weather, not just when the sun shines. The standard of horticultural work generally is appalling, with shrubberies routinely being cut with hedgetrimmers and sometimes even with sidearm cutters on tractors. This cannot be to specification.

And don’t get me started on the bedding, suffice it to say it is generally boring in the extreme and my whippet could come up with better schemes.

Having said that, recently a little gem has unfolded itself on an island on the Cocklebury roundabout system – the grass has been planted with wildflowers and it looks stunning, a really original and innovative idea.

Well done whoever conceived the idea.

Steve Thompson Norman Road Swindon

Keep us green

Coun Cindy Matthews is absolutely right. We have to watch our green open spaces if we want to keep them.

If planning legislation is in favour of development, those wishing to retain our diminishing green open spaces should then flag up the Open Space Audit 2011, which – ward for ward – clearly states that Swindon should “protect green open spaces”

Josie Lewis Gorse Hill Swindon

Stop suffering

The latest government statistics show that almost 3.8 million animals were used in experiments in the UK during 2011 – equivalent to over 10,000 experiments every day.

This is the highest number of animal experiments seen for 25 years and flies in the face of the Coalition Government’s pledge in 2010 to reduce the number of animals used in research..

It is unacceptable that millions of animals continue to suffer and die in UK laboratories – including 2,865 dogs, 11,844 rabbits, 153 cats, 3,772 cows, 562,245 fish and 3,962 pigs.

The UK should be leading the way in reducing animal testing, yet we remain one of the world’s largest users of animals in experiments.

The BUAV [British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection] will continue to work towards ending this appalling suffering, which is taking place in our laboratories.

For more information on the BUAV and our work, please visit: www.buav.org Michelle Thew Chief Executive BUAV 16a Crane Grove London