DUE to the resignation of a councillor who was seldom seen or heard in the town hall or in his ward, voters in Highgate will have an extra (fourth) ballot paper to complete when they vote on May 1. Plainly the Conservatives have timed Cllr Paul Barton s r

DUE to the resignation of a councillor who was seldom seen or heard in the town hall or in his ward, voters in Highgate will have an extra (fourth) ballot paper to complete when they vote on May 1.

Plainly the Conservatives have timed Cllr Paul Barton's resignation to benefit from what they hope will be a 'Boris bounce' by having the council by-election on the same day as the mayoral and GLA elections.

But having provided Highgate with one duff councillor, the Conservatives are now the only party fielding a candidate in Highgate who lives outside the ward, and worse, he is a man who mustered just seven per cent of the vote when he last stood for election - and that was when he stood in the ward where he lives!

Why should Highgate be expected to accept Kentish Town's rejects? We don't need more Conservatives on Camden council. It is the Liberal Democrats who lead Camden council and provide the energy and drive that has made Camden council one of the top three in the country.

Lib Dem Cllr Janet Grauberg has successfully held council tax down while achieving better value and improving services. Lib Dem Cllr Ben Rawlings has taken the lead in pioneering early intervention in fighting crime. Lib Dem Cllr John Bryant played a leading role in securing a new secondary school for Camden, back by University College London, one of the world's top universities.

The Lib Dem cycling champion Cllr Paul Braithwaite is spearheading the campaign for better cycle routes. The Lib Dem Camden eco-champion Cllr Alexis Rowell leads the cross-party Sustainability Task Force whish is turning Camden into a 'green' leader among London councils. The Lib Dem Cllr Chris Naylor is grappling with the miserable state of Camden council housing bequeathed by Labour.

The Lib Dem mayoral candidate, Brian Paddick, with 30 years' front-line experience in the Met, really knows what he is talking about on policing and crime and the importance of local police stations.

And it was the Liberal Democrats who sent detailed objections, as well as thousands of petition signatures, against the closure of Camden post offices, including that in Highgate High Street.

What's more, Liberal Democrats have polled a big majority of votes in recent by-elections across London. Really, who needs the Tories?

CLLR FARUQUE ANSARI

Kentish Town Ward, Camden Town Hall