IT’S not often I find I have something in common with the hard left, but I was pleased to see that the Socialist Labour Party is committed to a referendum on the EU Lisbon Treaty and the repatriation of powers to our national parliament, as in your letter from Mike York, John Taylor and Tony Dodsworth (HAS, May 15).

Conservatives have long supported these goals and we will continue to press the New Labour Government to hold a referendum as promised.

There are, however, also quite a few differences between Conservatives and the hard left.

The key difference is that the Conservatives are likely to be in government next year, whereas the Socialist Labour Party has no chance of power.

People should be careful not to waste their vote in the European Parliament elections on June 4.

Martin Callanan, Conservative MEP Candidate, North-East England.

ONE of the stories on radio last Friday morning was that the Government had agreed to the new £15bn cross-London line.

Having just spent £4bn cutting ten minutes off the time to the Channel Tunnel and sprucing up St Pancras station in the capital, it is wasting no time adding even more infrastructure meant for Heathrow airport.

So, why is it that this region has to beg, year on year, to complete the A1 and A66 roads to make them safe and help our industry?

We are calling our MPs out over their expenses – perhaps we ought to take a wider look at how they are failing this region, starting with the European Parliament elections on June 4.

People must use their vote if we are to change things around.

David Preston, Darlington.