I AM surprised that Helen Goodman MP continues to make the claim that the Bishop Auckland parliamentary constituency has been held by the Labour Party since 1903.

I would have thought that after 12 years as the sitting Member she would have known that in 1903 the Member of Parliament for the Bishop Auckland Constituency was James Paulton, a member of the Liberal Party. Indeed, it was not until 1918 that a member of the Labour Party was elected to serve the Bishop Auckland constituency.

I can only assume Helen has had another bad "Ingleton" day but perhaps I can assist to dispel this misnomer. In 1903 and until 1950 there was a Barnard Castle parliamentary constituency. Indeed, the by-election for the seat in 1903 saw the then Leader of the Labour Party, Arthur Henderson, elected with a majority of 47 votes. The last Labour Member to represent the seat, was an old friend in later years, Syd Lavers, who on leaving Parliament was elected chairman of the Northern Clubs Federation Brewery.

In 1950 boundary changes took place. The Barnard Castle constituency was abolished and the local government area of Barnard Castle Urban District Council, Barnard Castle Rural District Council and Auckland Rural District Council were transferred to the Bishop Auckland constituency.

Yes, it is true to state that those local government areas transferred from the former Barnard Castle constituency have been represented by the Labour Party since 1903 but it is only since 1918 that the Labour Party have held the Bishop Auckland constituency seat.

However, as we approach the June General Election and considering that the Bishop Auckland seat is 45th on the Conservative Party target seats, I can well see Helen Goodman failing to hit the 100 and the Labour Party bowled out after 99 years.

Billy Neilson, Bishop Auckland.