I believe that the letter from the former leader of Richmondshire District Council, Cllr John Blackie, (D&S, May 29 ) reveals the reason why he is no longer leading the council.

The letter from the Richmond Ukip candidate Matthew Cooke, (D&S, May 22) was well written and clearly thought through, thanking all who had helped his campaign.

However, the letter from Mr Blackie shows how he is a poor loser and simply cannot bear to no longer be holding power at the council, and thank goodness for that.

A 90 per cent satisfaction rating from council housing tenants is hardly to be applauded and I would be more concerned about the ten percent who are not satisfied. 

Mr Blackie’s letter was offensive to the majority of Richmondshire residents who did not vote for him at the General Election, and the fact that the successful candidate was “from away”, as Mr Blackie puts it, is neither here nor there.

The supposed Independents ganged up a few years ago to gain control of Richmondshire council through the back door and local folk did not approve then and they don’t now.

Mr Blackie refers in his letter to his 12 years of leadership. The best that he, and others, can now do is to support all elected councillors and, although challenge when appropriate, always act in the best interest of all of the people of Richmondshire.

The only time while he was leader that Mr Blackie declared that council tax would be frozen was in March – surely this had nothing to do with the fact that he was to announce that he would be putting himself forward as a candidate for MP for Richmond?  

PHIL HARNOTT, Richmond