I would vote for Nigel Evans again

In defence of your “excessive coverage” of Mr Evans case, it is not often Ribble Valley makes headline news and a local paper is fully justified in giving the full story.

With regard to Mr Evans being “lucky not to be in prison”, may I remind readers he was found not guilty on all counts, unanimously. The knee-jerk reaction of the CPS in bringing this prosecution has cost the taxpayer and Mr Evans personally a lot of money.

As for his electoral popularity, some statistics:

1991, the so-called Poll Tax by-election, Mr Evans lost to a Liberal Democrat by 4,601 votes. A lot of people think this was a protest against the selection of an “outsider”, having had a local MP for many years.

In the following general election, Mr Evans had a majority of 6,542.

1997 increased to 6,640

2001 increased to 11,238

2005 increased to 14,171

2010 increased to 14,769

I believe this reflects his good work as a constituency MP who has earned respect locally and unlike many MPs has not been involved in expenses fiddles.

Should he be selected as our prospective MP at the next election, I will be voting for him.

Jim Wolstencroft

via email