I READ the headline, “Pat Glass to succeed Hilary Armstrong”, on The Northern Echo’s website (Jan 23) with some confusion.

Succeed her as what? I hope nobody reads that as succeeding Hilary Armstrong as MP for North West Durham because that’s not in the gift of the Labour Party. It’s in the gift of the electorate.

I congratulate Mrs Glass on her selection as a candidate. It’s good to know who the Liberal Democrats need to beat in the General Election when it comes.

It’s good to know, too, who we need to press for the Labour Party’s views on many vital issues for North West Durham: on broadband and the ambulance service in Weardale; on the constituency’s worsening job situation; on the siting of Consett’s new academy in the face of most people’s wishes.

As the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for North West Durham I look forward to debating those and other issues so that the people can decide who succeeds Hilary Armstrong at Westminster.

Owen Temple, Consett, Co Durham.

■ Footnote: Our website story made it perfectly clear Mrs Glass had been selected as Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for North West Durham.