LETTER: I don't remember much bad press about Norman

Having recently defected from UKIP to join the Conservatives, I guess we shouldn’t be surprised to hear him try to ingratiate himself with his new puppet-masters.

Whilst I personally voted to remain in Europe, I take issue with his comments regarding the PPC Kelly-Marie Blundell. She is NOT asking for another referendum on membership of the EU, just a chance for us to ensure that the terms negotiated for us to withdraw are acceptable. Whilst disappointed with the result of the referendum in June, I like many others (including a majority in Maria Caulfield’s constituency) have to accept the will of the narrow majority across the country.

With the decision to leave having been taken through a democratic process, Kelly-Marie is only suggesting that we democratically decide on how this is going to affect us now and our children and grandchildren in the long-term.

I am even more angry at his ironic comments over Maria allegedly working ‘Damn Hard’. Whilst it is clearly a blatant attempt to show unswerving support for his new local Conservative colleagues, it masks his own failings to work for those who voted for him in 2013.

No doubt, as part of his miraculous epiphany a couple of months ago, he has been awarded the candidacy in his current seat for next May’s elections for the county council by his new ‘friends’.

However, one hopes that next time round, those who voted for him as a UKIP representative (and not a Conservative), should consider the effort he puts in to represent the people who voted for him in 2013.

To use a hypocritical analogy you quoted in your letter Cllr Charlton, be like our Olympians – put in the hard work to get the results. Getting your photo in the paper as Norman Baker often did, is usually for one of two things: good press or bad press.

I don’t remember much in the way of bad press in Norman’s long service of 18 years as our MP and only praise for him after his unfortunate departure.

I do not remember seeing your photo in the press at all, only the odd sycophantic letter.

Not much of a return for the money you receive as a county councillor, of a party you weren’t elected to represent in the first place.

Cllr Steve Saunders

(Town and District Councillor Newhaven Valley Ward)