GEORGE DUNNING, who I regard as the most colourful man in local politics, wrote about manifestos (HAS, Mar 26), which made me think of the most famous manifesto written by Marx and Engels: the Communist Manifesto. 

It began by describing how others regarded communism, the spectre haunting Europe and then it presented a clear account of what they thought communism would change in the lives of the people. 

I remember the inspiring words of the Labour manifesto in 1945: “The Labour Party is a socialist party and proud of it.”  I don’t think this is the clarion call of the Labour Party today which explains why my support can be no more than lukewarm.

Cllr Dunning has no time for manifestos and what he has going for him is that he has a track record, but as I see him now, if he asked me to vote for him as an independent, he has no moorings. He provides no clue as to where he is taking us. 

What he has done in the past has been with the support of the Labour Party but he has forfeited it.  None of us can achieve anything on our own and we look for team players

Geoff Bulmer, Billingham.