DOES Mr Victor Buchanan have the right to be flattered and credited with being instrumental in getting rid of absent and unhelpful MP Anne Macintosh?

I live in Pickering, as does Mr Buchanan. I wonder if he and the members of the local Conservative Party have any ideas of the issues that currently concern our town.

Because of the threat of Pickering losing its town bus, a service that is absolutely vital to the many people that use it, I contacted Anne Macintosh, who is my MP, no matter what political affiliation I may or may not have, in support of the town bus service.

She has always answered my emails and letters and phone calls and succeeded in getting a debate in the House of Commons.

I would like to ask Mr Buchanan if he was even aware that the bus service was under threat, or filled in a consultation form or survey to try to keep the service. Because the consultation has been ongoing since last summer and has had pages of information, even making the TV news at one point, he will have had every opportunity to do so.

In view of the response I have had from Miss Macintosh, I find his comments, nasty, lacking judgement, and totally unhelpful, I maybe will not mention being condescending to women.

I would like to suggest that he and his compatriots should perhaps “get out and meet the real people”.

What a messy and tasteless public debacle the de-selection process has become and if I was a member of this particular party, I would be hanging my head in shame at how certain leading members, addresses withheld, have allowed this to happen.

I am left wondering about the Ryedale District Council elections next May if this is the start of desperate campaigns by some people and how far off the potential MP’s list is Mr Buchanans name.

Sue Cowan, Pickering


What hypocrisy. As the author of the anonymous letter published on February 5, I read with incredulity Victor Buchanan’s claim last week that his influence was limited to only one vote in the election which resulted in the de-selection of Anne McIntosh as our Conservative candidate in next year’s General Election.

This is the ultimate in hypocrisy because both he and Major Steveney did their best to persuade as many as possible of the 560+ Thirsk and Malton Conservative Association members not to vote for her.

Major Steveney addressed meetings with this objective and both of them telephoned as many members as they could get hold of with the specific objective of canvassing support for her de-selection.

As I said in my earlier letter, their actions could only be described as disgraceful.

Some of us were capable of making a more balanced judgement of her capabilities as our sitting MP, were not persuaded by the allegations of her shortcomings and voted in her favour.

As for the suggestion that ex-members of the Thirsk and Malton Conservative Association will now “return in droves”, I would suggest that the opposite is more likely to be the case.

Name and address supplied.


So there we have it in black and white. If you want to be the prospective conservative candidate for the Thirsk and Malton constituency you will be expected to be ‘”yes man or woman” and vote as told or you will be out on your ear.

Don’t these people realise that an MP has to represent all their constituents - not just a handful of people on the executive council.

If Victor Buchanan cares to read the rules 15.2.6.3 he will find that it was his side, the anti Anne McIntosh brigade, who (to be charitable), stretched the rules to breaking point.

The rules stated that there was to be no canvassing. I received a letter from two senior conservatives urging me to vote ‘no’ and several people have reported phone calls.

As for the claim that new members are joining in droves I am sceptical as I am certain several people are not going to renew their membership in the forthcoming year.

In my opinion there are no winners as this has split the Thirsk and Malton Association and for the first time in a generation this seat could be lost again.

Stephen Stonehouse, Brawby