Sir, – With reference to the response (D&S letters, Feb 13) of Jennie Tillotson (Chairman, Stokesley Conservative Association) to my letter (D&S, Feb 6) regarding Mr Sunak’s selection as the prospective Conservative successor to William Hague, all the things she states he has "worked tirelessly" to do since being selected one would automatically expect as "the new kid on the block" with relatively little knowledge of North Yorkshire and in particular its farming heritage. To fill Mr Hague’s boots (JCB’s or otherwise!) will take a great deal of hard work at local level well beyond the election.

It is interesting to note that one of the Conservative candidates allegedly "blown away" by Mr Sunak’s qualities, Wendy Morton, born and bred in North Yorkshire, daughter of a farmer and involved for many years in politics in our region, was later selected as the prospective Conservative candidate for Aldridge-Brownhills, West Midlands!

With this in mind, one must give some credence to the comments in my original letter regarding other influences at play in the selection process i.e. placing new candidates around the country under a Conservative Central Office master plan to ‘field more women and ethnic minority candidates than ever before’ as recently quoted by Grant Shapps, Conservative Party Chairman in the Telegraph.

Jennie Tillotson’s "guarantee that Richmond voters will not be disappointed" is a brave statement to make: nothing can be guaranteed when it comes to politics and today’s breed of professional politicians.

Following Joe Willis’ interview with Rishi Sunak in last week’s Darlington and Stockton Times, I hope that your excellent publication will offer readers the opportunity to hear from all the other prospective candidates for the Richmond seat before the May election so that we can have a fair and balanced knowledge of their views and policies.

ROBERT BROWN

Leyburn.