SIR, I have just received a publication through the post entitled The Borders News. Local newspaper distributors need not worry for it is a only a political flier camouflaged to look like a friendly information sheet.
This is the latest in a series of political releases by the Liberal Democrats to promote their prospects in the coming general election. The latest opinion polls make very poor reading for them and it is understandable that they have to play to their only supposed strength that their candidate is a very decent bloke.
Sadly the publication portrays the local MP as a kind of super local councillor seizing the chance to comment on every item and non item of interest with any photo opportunity that arises.
It is par for the course to have a go at the SNP as that Party offer the greatest threat to his re election.
Transport petitions and surveys are all very well but being chair of the A7 action group should evoke a wry smile from those of us who witnessed the de trunking of the same route in the Galashiels and onward section.
The LibDem Tory government handling of the NHS has nothing to be proud of south of the border. In this latest publication the LibDems actually promise to invest billions of pounds into the service. It is fairly reasonable to predict that the Lib Dems will not form the next UK government and are open to the highest bidder, their erstwhile allies the Conservatives from whom they are now trying to distance themselves or Labour who are on record to copy Tory cut backs.
It is a bit late in the day to try to divorce from the Conservatives after four years of political wedded bliss albeit as the junior partner. The publication has included allegations against the Tories that suggest pay cuts will come in the public sector and that some of their policies were blocked by the Lib Dems. The junior partner now has to create much political distance from the senior Tory partner. Four years of Tory/LibDems cooperation will not be forgotten by thousands of anti Tory voters in the Borders.
I am, etc.
Derek Philips Clovenfords
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