The letter from Andrew Parkes (Labour betrayal, May15) surprised me, although it should not have done so.

Did Mr Parkes expect the Labour candidate to visit every house in the constituency to deliver a leaflet?

If Mr Parkes sits at home waiting for election leaflets to drop through his door before he decides who to vote for then he will have voted Lib-Dem, as I received 12 of them, telling me to vote Lib-Dem to keep out the Tories. Any candidate relies on volunteers at election time to help with all the work entailed, including leafleting, and like me many of the solid supporters are getting old or infirm.

Obviously the Lib Dems have many young supporters who were able to cover the area. Many now must be wondering how they helped to elect a Conservative Government and why it is supported by their Lib-Dem representatives.

As for myself, a solid Labour supporter all my life, I say good luck to the new administration, as people voted for change. Labour must take the time to renew itself and sort itself out; it was not an ignominious defeat.

Dennis Barton, Woodthorpe, York.