IN a letter in last week’s Gazette & Herald I said that James Gray had ‘refused to take part in any election hustings’.
In an email correspondence since he has assured me this was not the case and it was merely that no church group or other forum had tried to organise such hustings during this election campaign. I am sorry to have misrepresented his views.
I think it is a pity, and not good for our democracy, when there are no opportunities for electors to hear those who are seeking to be their MP. Increasingly our elections seem to be conducted through TV and social media: but these are no substitute for hearing and questioning one’s own local candidates.
JOHN BOALER 
Chairman
Calne Branch Labour Party