I owe former Adur councillor Nigel Sweet an apology - I overlooked his letter (Opinion extra, March 28).

I'm sorry, Nigel, but my antennae are tuned to detect items of low-flying misinformation and your letter was more like a soggy ball of loo-paper, so it did not register.

I note you make no attempt to deny or refute any of the specific points I made but simply try to rubbish me.

I will give you two more points. Gordon Brown reduced the tax on petrol in his Budget but only until June 1, safely after the original election date of May 3.

However, after being forced by public opinion to postpone the election, petrol prices will now rise again a week before the election.

In his wisdom, Mr Brown has now decided spectacles and contact lenses are no longer health-care products and should carry the full rate of VAT, also from June 1. Does it feel as though you have been shot in the foot?

Yes, I am a Tory - as you suspect - and proud of it. I have therefore thrown my hat in the ring and will be standing for election to the county council in June - shall I see you there?

-P R Mockridge, Conservative candidate for the Saltings division of West Sussex County Council