Lib Dems respond to political bias accusation

Dear Editor, I am very grateful that you published my recent comments on housing plans for South Oxfordshire but I am troubled that this has caused you any difficulty. I hope you will allow me to respond to the letter from Mike Dyer (22/3/10) and in the process exonerate Thame News from any accusations of bias.

The Liberal Democrats are comfortable with the idea of political debate and we recognise that media organisations like Thame News will publish a range of views without this being evidence of any bias whatsoever. I assume that over the next six weeks you will include comments from the numerous political parties and pressure groups which will be seeking to influence the outcome of the forthcoming election. I shall welcome this and I shall not for a moment assume it to be bias on your part.

On a personal note could I state that I had no intention of misleading anyone as to my identity but as many of your readers will be aware it is normal for election candidates to only refer to themselves as ‘candidates’ once the election has been formally called. I am honoured to have been asked by South East Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats to be their candidate for Henley constituency and when the Prime Minister leaves Buckingham Palace for the last time in the next few weeks I shall proudly call myself the Liberal Democrat candidate for Henley. Until that time I shall remain a humble ‘spokesman’.

Yours faithfully

Andy Crick
South East Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats spokesman
23/03/10