As an outspoken critic of Oxford East’s sitting MP, let me give credit where credit’s due.

Well done, Andrew Smith, for voting with the Lib Dems and so helping to defeat Labour’s mean-spirited plans for the Ghurkas.

Here’s hoping your new-found independence won’t stop there.

Let’s hope you will again vote against misguided policies.

It would have helped if you had voted with us in trying to stop our country marching to war in Iraq.

It would have helped if you had voted with us in opposing the waste of money that is Labour’s flagship policy of ID cards.

It would have helped if you had opposed the creeping privatisation of the NHS, and it would have helped if you had voted to relieve fuel poverty. Perhaps you regret voting the wrong way on those issues. If you do, be big enough to say ‘sorry’ and let us move on. After all, there will be many more occasions when you should be ready to stand up to your old friend, Gordon Brown.

Steve Goddard, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Oxford East Liberal Democrats