Gary Edgecombe, of Camperdown Road, Salcombe, writes:

I’m so glad to have tickled John Sprague’s funny bone regarding Sarah Wollaston, Gazette, December 11. His being a Conservative can’t be much fun at the best of times, so I was glad to help.

While I realise Knowle Road can get a little out of touch at times, it’s going to be an awful shock to him to find that white £5 notes are no longer legal ­tender, socialism exists and there are, in fact, people other than Tories with an opinion.

I fail to see what Sarah’s ­waffling about assisted dying has to do with our collapsing road infrastructure, or how he can attempt to ridicule the ­timing of a letter to a local newspaper.

The former is a national debate, the latter definitely a local one.

Local issues, as far as I’m concerned, are what a local MP should be focusing on, whereas Sarah is focused on her career.

What she happened to be discussing at the time of my ­letter is totally irrelevant. Exactly what is Mr Sprague afraid of?

Second, he remarks upon Sarah Woolaston being voted Parliamentarian of the Year. Isn’t this a Spectator event? I believe so, which renders it even more irrelevant than the point Mr Sprague attempted to make about the timing of my previous comments. Another little jolly to be attended – after all, the nosh and plonk will be free, won’t it?

Finally, he describes me as ‘inept’. I couldn’t object more strongly to this, as anyone who knows me will use the term ‘incompetent’.

The only comment John Sprague made that really alarmed me, is the one saying that there is a possibility of my qualifying for the Foot in Mouth Award of the Year. Good Lord! I hope not. That would automatically label me as a promising Tory Member of Parliament.