THE local election results once again made plain for all to see that Swindon voters are more than able to exercise with considerable prescience their democratic right to vote for the party or person of their choice.

The electorate in Gorse Hill chose the Labour candidate as they have consistently for years. The BNP candidate polled more than 300 votes, by no means a disgrace in pure arithmetical terms but quite paltry in real terms given the media coverage of their candidate and campaign.

I had little doubt that the BNP candidate would attract some votes. I equally had confidence in the people of Gorse Hill to ensure that a BNP candidate was not elected to represent them in the council.

The BNP's success they were recognised nationally as the party of choice by a considerable number of voters is a measure of the main parties' failure to address issues which concern people living in this country.

Political correctness and the fear of being labelled racist has stunted real and proper debate on a wide range of topics which should be aired sensibly.

The Government and some self-interest groups cannot and indeed must not restrict legitimate commentary on subjects such as immigration, asylum seekers and crime committed by foreign nationals.

Nobody in their right mind wants to see a situation in our town and country where people are persecuted for their skin colour, religious beliefs or the fact that they were born in another country. But in the present climate any policy which supports positively discriminating in favour of a minority will attract the opprobrium of the majority.

Some of the antics employed in attempting to smear the BNP and their candidate was infantile and did nothing to enhance the democratic process. I supported Mr Kirkbride, who I believed would engage in proper debate against the policies of the BNP. In the end democracy won the day through the ballot box.

D MORGAN Swindon