Sir, – Re the recent debate over the selection of our new MP, would it really make any difference who or what they replaced William Hague with? With a majority of over 23,000 it is a foregone conclusion that the Conservatives will win easily again; whether the candidate has any links or knowledge of the area is another matter.

Malcolm Rifkind (ex-Tory Foreign Secretary ) this week on The Daily Politics said that he only spent five per cent of his time on constituency work and the rest on his Cabinet work. Therefore if William Hague did likewise who has been "looking after the flock" and begs another question in that if he has spent so little time over the past few years representing his constituents do we need a full time MP?

Successive governments have due to European legislation (red tape) bowed down to The Freedom of Movement Act. There has been much huffing and puffing by the two main parties. David Cameron's latest attempt at curbing immigration has failed miserably, with net migration of 298,000 in 2014.

If one assumes that they are the minimal numbers being officially declared then over the next 10 years we will have another three million people living here which will impact on all infrastructure and services. The South East has mainly had to cope with the numbers so far but one thing I will suggest is: enjoy the green fields because houses will shortly be being built near you.

JOHN H NUTTALL

Manor Court, Leyburn.