"Spot the difference come voting time".

From Chris Bramall, 14 Duncombe Street, Wollaston, Stourbridge, DY8 3QU

Dear Sir

I was disappointed at the tone of Nigel Hastilow's column last Friday under the title "Spot the difference come voting time".

First, his suggestion that part of the "depressing truth" about the political parties is that "they all believe in climate change and global warming" and "they all want new taxes on flying and driving". There is a scientific consensus that urgent action needs to be taken to save the human race from catastrophic global warming. Future generations will brand as criminals any political party that refuses to take the issue seriously. Of course, having to pay more for anything is annoying and upsetting. But can any responsible person, hand on heart, object seriously to paying a little more for flying or motoring if that will help to stabilise the climate for future generations?

Secondly, Nigel Hastilow's suggestion that all three parties are depressingly similar. In fact the Liberal Democrats are different. Of the three main parties, we are the only party pledged to bring about real change. Take just seven examples. We are the only party who have consistently taken global warming seriously. We are the only party who want to break up the big banks so as to prevent them holding the taxpayer to ransome. We are the only party pledged to make the tax system fairer so the poor pay less and the rich pay their proper share. We are the only party who want to see real powers given back to local government. We are the only party pledged to bring in fair votes for all. As the only party to oppose the Iraq war, we can claim to be the only party who can be trusted on matters of war and peace. And yes - we are the only party to take Europe seriously (which is not the same as supporting every hare-brained scheme emanating from the EU Commission).

So voters - and Nigel Hastilow - please take heart. There is a real choice, even under Britain's cock-eyed voting system. No-one really knows how people will react, following the MPs' expenses scandal, when it comes to putting that cross on the ballot paper. And on the day I'm writing this letter the LibDems are even running second to the Conservatives in one national opinion poll.

Chris Bramall

Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate, Stourbridge