I would like to congratulate Nicholas Boles on his selection as the Conservatives party's prospective parliamentary candidate for Hove and Portslade.

Anyone who knows him will be aware of his energy and determination to campaign for the things that matter to the people of this city.

Nicholas has shown his commitment to Hove and Portslade - within days of his selection he was searching for a home in the constituency.

DA Brown wonders why Nicholas doesn't stand for where he lives and is known (Letters, October 29).

A more appropriate question would be why not? For starters, we are fortunate to live in a democracy and it is open to anyone to put their name forward as a candidate.

In any case, does it really matter where you come from? It is not where you live that determines whether you are the right person to represent the people.

It is the policies you put forward and how they will effect our everyday lives that is important.

Nicholas supports 100 per cent the Conservative policy to link pensions with earnings. He supports putting 909 more police officers on the beat in Sussex.

He supports the patient passport to enable people to choose when and where they receive treatment.

Nicholas has already shown that he has his finger on the local electorate's pulse by restating and supporting the Conservative group's opposition to the King Alfred towers.

-Carol Ramsden, Brighton