Published: Thursday, 18th June, 2009 8:00am

Letter: Voting figures do not add up

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TORY MP Rob Wilson in his Westminster column (Chronicle, June 11) demonstrates a failure to add up depressingly familiar to observers of the Punch and Judy show over public spending that has blown up in recent days.

He claims to have voting figures for Reading East which prove that the Conservatives are way ahead; in fact, the June 4 elections were counted by borough.

However, one-quarter of Reading East constituency comprises Woodley. The one set of real votes in real ballot boxes in the town were cast in the Loddon Airfield by-election, where he has visited increasingly often in recent weeks and was spotted several times on polling day.

Mr Wilson"s selective amnesia undoubtedly has something to do with the result: a sensational Liberal Democrat gain from the Conservatives, where new Councillor Matt Hayward received a swing of no less than 11% from Conservative to Liberal Democrat. This is more than ample for the swing we need for Mr Wilson to lose his seat at the general election.

In other words, Mr Wilson spins. We win.

Gareth Epps

Liberal Democrat prospective Parliamentary candidate for Reading East