JUST prior to the elections in May I attended the Hustings that had been arranged at St Helens Parish Church. I was immensely impressed by Elizabeth Ward and several other would-be MPs as well as Conor McGinn. However, I am completely baffled by Ms Ward's comments (Star letters, July 23) for the following reason.

Like many councils St Helens is having to cope with cutbacks in the public sector.

Now, as far as I am aware Marie Rimmer is still acting as a local councillor as well as being an MP which means that I guess she will legitimately receive about £600 per month for being a councillor whether she actually steps inside the town hall or not.

I am not saying that Marie Rimmer or those in a similar position are acting illegally but wouldn't you think that in this period of apparent austerity that morally some consciences ought to be pricked and maybe elections held for a new councillor in West Park now that Marie Rimmer is a parliamentarian?

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