I THANK David Candler for his observations (You Say, March 29). Actually, my foot was not placed in my mouth as it was never my intention to stand for re-election to Warwickshire County Council.

How anybody could stand for election to Parliament in Worcester while seeking re-election to a council elsewhere is beyond me!

It would be particularly foolish to do so in my circumstances where the likelihood is winning both. National opinion polls are notoriously inaccurate, shifting this way and that from day-to-day. Witness the Euro Elections where the Conservatives came from nowhere to romp home.

While I appreciate Mr Candler's concern should I end up with nothing, he probably assumes that I, like most Labour politicians, rely on some elected role for a living.

Unlike them, I'm not a professional politician. On the contrary, I come from the real life world where I have built up my own business. Neglected of late I have to admit, nevertheless, I have that to fall back on, the result of hard work and self-reliance.

As a Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, this makes me a rare specimen. In the Labour Party I would be deemed an extinct breed.

RICHARD ADAMS, PPC Worcester.