CHRIS FOOTE-WOOD (HAS, Feb 19) mentions Ukip as an opponent of Labour.

A far more formidable opponent in the May election is the Labour County Council itself.

The County Durham Plan debacle shows that, once again, the council is completely at odds with the aspirations of the general public. The council always states that “the general public has been consulted”. It would be of interest to find in which cupboard in County Hall this “general public” individual is kept hidden.

Councillor Neil Foster says he is disappointed. Really?

Chastened, ashamed, more likely! Labour Party candidates in the election, sitting MPs and prospective, have a mammoth, perhaps impossible, task in differentiating themselves from the Labour county council.

Peter Clare, Low Willington.