I WAS a little surprised to see that the Redcar's MP, Ian Swales, has decided not to contest the forthcoming General Election for personal reasons.

You might find it a little strange that I am sad to see him go, but I was looking forward to debating with him, and others, the issues that affect this area and, in particular, Redcar.

I have always found him to be an honest and well-intentioned man, although I could not agree with his party’s pro-EU policy.

Clearly, the LibDems had a terrible time in the run up to the EU elections, suffering humiliation during the campaign and since the announcement of the results. It must be difficult to motivate yourself in those circumstances.

We in Ukip have completely the opposite outlook.

The LibDems probably now realise, as do Labour, that Ukip’s success is not a passing phase that can be complacently dismissed while they wait for the cosy Westminster bubble to close around them again.

Ukip wants the heartfelt opinions of ordinary voters to be heard in Westminster.

We want to speak up for this region in order to get our fair share of the economic wealth of the UK and not have it all spent fuelling the far off boom in London and the South-East.

Why do we have 50 per cent more unemployment than the South?

The North-East has contributed a huge amount to the prosperity of this country, only to receive a poor reward from a continual succession of Lib/Con/Lab governments.

The last Labour government did nothing for this region. We in Ukip will strive to change all that.

Chris Gallacher, Ukip Redcar and Cleveland.

LIBERAL Democrat Ian Swales, the MP for Redcar, is to step down.

They say the Tories would never win a seat in Redcar but in Mr Swales we virtually had a Tory MP.

Folk on Teesside are very bitter the way the LibDems have propped up this dastardly couldn't-care-less Tory government,helping them ignite some rather ghastly policies.

Was it really worth damaging the LibDem party brand just for the sake of a brief spell in power?

The LibDems sold out to the Tories on the cheap and you can't sink any lower than that.

They voted for many unjust and slapdash Tory policies. Or,in Mr Swales' case, didn't bother to vote at all (the bedroom tax springs to mind).

The LibDems have slowly morphed into the Tory party. For many Teessiders that is unforgivable.

Recent opinion polls prove any attempt by Mr Swales to retain a relatively healthy majority will fail to come to fruition.

Who in their right mind would vote for the LibDems led by a millionaire Prime Minister who unashamedly claimed 8p for a bulldog clip, yet slashed vital support for the sick, elderly and disabled?

Stephen Dixon, Redcar.