DARLINGTON MP Alan Milburn says Conservatives are "depressed"

and were "rejected" by the people of Darlington in last Thursday's local elections and that the constituency cannot be regarded as marginal (Echo, some editions, May 7). I have the following points to make: 1) 53 Labour candidates polled 22,517 votes; 39 Conservatives polled 23,545, averaging 179 votes more per candidate.

2) Sixty more votes spread in two wards (Pierremont and Haughton North) would have seen the Labour Party lose control.

3) By a simple statistical measure we can show that the total votes in all wards which comprise Mr Milburn's constituency show a Conservative lead.

4) The rural village wards (which are in Sedgefield constituency) voted 4,865 for the Conservatives compared with 658 for Labour.

If there had been a Parliamentary by-election last Thursday, the Darlington result would have been too close to call. The Labour Party in the rural areas has more or less ceased to exist.

Mr Milburn is right to be concerned about things in Darlington. He is a good spin doctor, like Tony Blair, who said that 900- plus seats lost last week was a "springboard for the future". This, however, is no excuse for saying things which are just plain wrong.

Councillor Ian Galletley, Conservative Agent, Darlington.

WELL that's another damp squib under our belts - what was all the fuss about? Nothing has changed following last Thursday's local elections, it's still the same, just a different shade in various places.

It would be much easier if all the names of the those seeking election were put in a hat and drawn out randomly - it would make no discernible difference.

Until our politicians put their own house in order to the benefit of the country voter, apathy will continue to grow, but that is what they want because the only priority of a government, or politician, is to remain in (or gain) power whatever the cost.

M Hawkins, Langley Park, Durham.