Readers of the Wiltshire Times will have become familiar with the half-page advertisements on behalf of the Conservative parliamentary candidate which have appeared in its pages on a weekly basis of late. 

And those who don't take our local paper will no doubt have been on the receiving end of a stream of unsolicited printed material through their letterboxes, the gist of which puts me in mind of a phrase used by our American cousins: “Motherhood and apple pie”. 

This is defined as “views which hardly anyone would disagree with”. Thus the Conservative candidate is in favour of “more local jobs”, “supporting hardworking families”, “security in retirement” and “rejuvenating our towns and countryside”. 

What’s not to like? And I dare say Ms Donelan is in favour of World Peace too.

Free public parking for the first hour and opening Corsham Railway Station are mentioned as specific objectives. These are worthy causes but they cost money. 

The reason that local councils have increased parking charges is because they are so strapped for cash, having suffered drastic cuts to their funding from central government since 2010. 

The present government blames the previous one for the state of our finances but its supporters should at least be honest enough to admit that local authorities have suffered as a result and that some cuts in local services are simply inevitable.

I am no great fan of the Coalition Government but I am convinced that the LibDems have acted as a constructive and moderating influence on the Conservative majority and that the situation would have been a lot worse in their absence.

Yes, the threshold at which people pay tax has risen – thanks to the LIbDems, and it is grossly unfair for the Conservatives to take credit for this.

The Tories in opposition fought tooth and nail against the introduction of a minimum wage. Now, at a time when many working families earn so little they are forced to claim tax credit, the Tories object to any proposed control of bankers' bonuses. 

Is it a coincidence that it is largely the finance industry which bankrolls the Conservative party?

Does the Conservative party expect us all to regard their candidate’s charm offensive as any more than a public relations exercise?

Roger Jones,
Regents Place,
Bradford on Avon.