I NOTE the report (March 30) that Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger has failed to make the shortlist to represent the Tory party in the safe seat of East Devon.

I wonder if members of the selection committee had read his letter in your paper dated September 23 1999, in which he stated, 'Above all else, let us be honest — Europe is already a complete disaster for our country. The evidence is overwhelming'.

He might have found it difficult to equate such comments to the totally dishonest Tory slogan — as repeated by Mr William Hague in Torquay this week — of being in the EU but not run by the EU.

If the Tory party had the guts to promise a referendum on our continued membership of the EU Mr Liddell-Grainger might regret not staying put as Torridge and West Devon could well become one of the safest seats in the West Country.

I suggest that he concentrates on getting his party to act in line with his own convictions so that we can look forward to the opportunity of regaining control of our own destiny. He is right — Europe is a complete disaster.

Robert W Lloyd

Little Preston

Inwardleigh