READING The Insider (Oxford Mail, March 9), I had to agree that the Headington Hill and Northway by-election is indeed a two horse race.

This will be a hard-fought contest between Marc Borja, the local Conservative candidate, and the Labour Party candidate, Roy Darke. Although you would not know it from the way it was written up.

Back in last May’s elections, which saw a swing from the Lib Dems to the Conservatives of 7.5 per cent across Oxford, Marc came just within 37 votes of beating the Labour Party in this seat. The Liberals were left trailing in a very distant third place.

The reality is, if you want to send a message to Gordon Brown, and if you’ve had enough of a Labour council which has just put your council tax up by an inflation-busting 4.5 per cent, the choice is clear: more of the same from Labour, or voting for Marc Borja and voting for change and for a hard-working local campaigner who will stand up and fight for your interests in the Town Hall and help give Headington Hill and Northway the fresh start it deserves.

ED ARGAR, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Oxford East