It is no coincidence that, as the outgoing leader of the Liberal Democrats on Kingston Council, Roger Hayes admits his frustration at the disunity of his party.

Iris Grender (Letters April 11) should be trying to draw the fire elsewhere, than on to the constructive opposition provided by the Christian Peoples Alliance (CPA).

Her rant is wrong on just about every detail.

She says the CPA is both "a one man show" and also "appears to be so strong locally."

The truth is that the christian democratic ideal is stronger than any person.

Last year, the CPA ran 17 candidates for the council. But, as a young party, centred its efforts on one ward in New Malden.

Iris asks about the CPA's past and prospects. Two years ago in London, after just a few months existence, nearly 100,000 people backed our candidate for London Mayor, Ram Gidoomal CBE. She should know better than to suggest this positive result was achieved because of a "free mailing". There was no such free mailing in the GLA elections.

Christian democracy is new to Britain as an electoral option. The CPA was not formed by one man (David Alton played no part) but by a group of people who wanted to offer voters something different from the dry secularism of the major parties.

Constructive politics requires all parties to offer hope and positive policies to voters and this the CPA will continue to do. It also requires the challenge of truth-telling to the electorate, even when raising controversial issues, such as the action of Lib Dems in Parliament to interfere with the admissions policies of church schools. It is better that voters know these facts.

Christian democracy has made a modest start. But it is engaging with the challenges of this century, not the party politics of the last.

David Campanale

Christian Peoples Alliance

New Malden

April 25, 2003 10:00