WE CAN of course understand Stephen Doughty’s appeal for more tolerance and understanding for those holding public office.

But I think we have every right to be cynical about Neil Hamilton’s election as a UKIP Assembly Member that threatens to bring our Welsh Assembly into disrepute, as we are now saddled with this former Tory MP, disgraced for taking cash for questions, who would never be selected for any English constituency.

The Tories, who tried to pin all the blame on immigration for their own failure to build enough homes and schools, or to properly fund our NHS, are hoist by their own petard with only four more AMs than UKIP; but this is small consolation for Welsh Lib Dems who have paid a high price for Nick Clegg trading all their hopes of parliamentary and voting reform for the vainglorious title of deputy PM.

If Labour is to do more than win in Wales, they must take up the fallen banner of reform by remembering their Liberal roots in Lloyd George’s great People’s Budget and resist any attempt to cut the number of Welsh and Scottish MPs.

Margaret Phelps

Raisdale Gardens

Penarth