Often significant lessons of local elections are hidden in the detail. Last May the Lib Dems won Central Ward from Labour.

In the by-election in January they expected to win a second seat in the ward, but their vote slumped, and then this month they came a poor third behind both Labour and the Tories.

This is a real shame for their candidate, Tel Hudson, who seems both pleasant and able and I am sure would make a very good councillor (putting party allegiances aside).

The blame must lie with the fact that the Lib Dems have published two election leaflets over the last year for this ward that make false claims.

They said that the local priest was backing them, which he wasn't, and they claimed their January candidate was leading the campaign about Coate Water, which he isn't. Both of these falsehoods were exposed by the Adver.

No wonder people are turned off politics. I call on the Lib Dems to put their house in order in the interest of honesty.

They should reveal who did write these dodgy leaflets and expel them from their party for bringing it, and democracy, into disrepute. Only in that way can the voters of Swindon put this matter behind us.

Andy Newman

Avenue Road

Swindon