Sir – I have been called many things since I canvassed my first vote in Carterton in 1998, but never Johnny Come Lately.

I am delighted Joe Goldberg has been campaigning in Witney and Chipping Norton; that will explain the Labour successes here in June!

It’s a pity Joe didn’t campaign in Burford and Carterton North East ward at the same time; he might have stopped me coming second and getting three times as many votes as the fifth placed Labour candidate.

I agree the people of Witney need a better quality of debate, but as I’m the only candidate who has a home here, it won’t happen soon. Perhaps I should go to London, where three of the candidates have their first homes.

I note Joe has visited hospitals locally – perhaps he popped into Witney, where my family have been having our cuts and bruises dealt with for more than 14 years, and where I, as a former non-executive director of SW Oxon NHS PCT, was responsible for policy decisions.

He might have visited a school or two, but it’s not the same as putting his child through ten years of schooling in the constituency as I have done. My grandson now attends a pre-school locally.

I have also been a member of Oxfordshire schools admissions appeals panel for the last ten years. I think my knowledge of local education issues might exceed Joe’s.

My nine years as a district and town councillor for Carterton outweigh the few months Joe has spent as a Haringey councillor.

I am not aiming my fire at Joe as the only alternative to Mr Cameron. I am aiming my fire at him because he and the other declared candidates do not offer a real alternative to David Cameron.

This is the second General Election I will have fought here, and the tenth time I will have stood locally. Councillor Goldberg and the other declared candidates are the Johnnys Come Lately, who know little of and care little for the constituency they seek to represent.

Paul Wesson, Independent PPC, Witney Constituency, Carterton