SIR – I m not sure why my name not being published in the Herts Advertiser could possibly hinder Mr St John Stokes defence of Trades Union movement bullying the Government into forming policies or, as I said at the time, about the more worrying issue of

SIR - I'm not sure why my name not being published in the Herts Advertiser could possibly hinder Mr St John Stokes' defence of Trades Union movement bullying the Government into forming policies or, as I said at the time, about the more worrying issue of any potential arrangements or promises that may exist between St Albans Lib Dems, their "parliamentary hopeful" Sandy Walkington and the money given to them by a hedge fund and asset strippers based hundreds of miles away.

It's not an unreasonable question to ask but what do these people have to gain by paying any money - let alone thousands - into the St Albans Lib Dems' election fighting coffers?

Should we assume the financial gamblers found a friend in a 'parliamentary hopeful' who has built his career entirely on political lobbying and 'communication', to fight their corner against any incoming regulations? It seems we are not worthy of an answer.

Mr St John Stokes and other readers will also find the deafening silence odd, especially from a political party and a group of people that are usually so desperate to have their faces, names and quotes splashed all over the paper that they would kneel in the middle of the road pointing at holes for a photo shoot.

But entirely for Mr St John Stokes' peace of mind, he'll be pleased to know when sending my earlier letter I simply asked that the Herts Advertiser didn't print my full postal address, but I was quite happy for my name to be given. Whilst Mr St John Stokes may well choose to be a defender of Labour policy in this paper, in my mind that's what party representatives are for.

I simply had questions - which remain unanswered. And as he knows his letter was entirely a response to his own about donations to political parties locally.

To write a letter a week later asking why I wasn't defending polices when he didn't even raise them at the time is unfair.

I suppose as Mr St John Stokes' letter paints the picture that everybody in St Albans is a flag-waving Trade Unionist merrily funding the Labour Party.

It might also be worth asking: do you realise that as members of a Trade Union a proportion of your monthly contributions, all from your hard-earned salaries, goes on to directly fund the Labour party? And rather than opt-into this arrangement one must have to jump through hoops to opt-out of it?

If you didn't know this I urge you to contact your Trade Union and state that you are no longer willing to fund the Labour Party but, as laid down by the law, you do want to remain a full-member of the Union and as such wish your subscription fee be reduced accordingly.

BOB J SANDERSON

London Road, St Albans