SIR, I have today received what would normally be defined as an election leaflet but in my many years of interest in politics I have never received anything like this one.

It measures 17 inches long by six inches wide, or 42cm by 15cm, with a high gloss finish.

The candidate claims that he is securing jobs and opportunities for our young people. He is campaigning for better roads and public transport, improving our high streets and claiming that somehow lower petrol prices can be attributed to himself and his colleagues. There is no mention of the fall in oil prices worldwide.

Now to those people who have not received this publication can you guess who the candidate is?

He has not mentioned food banks, cut backs and austerity measures despite his claim of growing prosperity. But he has claimed that he is delivering broadband in the Borders area.

There are two candidates at this moment in time - one an MSP and the other an MP - who are bombarding the electorate with very similar policies and attempting to outdo each other on what they regard as local issues with very little reference to issues of national importance.

We elect local councillors to handle issues such as garden waste collection. These two candidates have held their elected posts for many years and there does not seem to be much benefit to the Borders.

I scoured the publication from top to bottom on both sides having obviously identified the name John Lamont. But what I could not find was any mention of a political party he represents.

Finally at the bottom of page two in tiny print there it was, john.lamont@scottishconservatives.com I wonder if this candidate is trying to play down his membership of the Conservative and Unionist party and run on a Mr Nice Guy ticket similar to his erstwhile Referendum partner? If neither of these candidates wins the election at least they will have had plenty practice to become local councillors.

I am, etc.

Derek Philips Clovenfords