I THINK the letter from Anne Burnett-Godfree, (EA, June 20) just about sums up Swindon Council.

In answer to her question are the people of Swindon gullible? the answer is no.

Most voters vote for a party rather than an individual and are not prepared to put education, social services etc in jeopardy.

Some vote for individual candidates because they believe that he/she will do a good job for them which they will, providing of course it does not clash with party politics.

Every election we get the same old faces and the same old promises that everyone knows they will not keep (except for tax rises, of course). Any new candidate who does appear is usually a party nominee, so no change there.

Until we get a substantial number of Independent candidates elected, I can see no change in the present council for years to come.

There is a silver lining however. If we had become a city, Mr Doherty and his cohorts would be receiving much higher salaries and our councillors would be receiving higher allowances and perks. Has anyone worked out what city status will cost the taxpayer?

M CHESTERMAN

Hyde Road

Kingsdown

Swindon