I, FOR one, was not glad that Nicola Blackwood has become my Member of Parliament.

She did not reply to the questions I sent to her (and all the other local candidates) concerning nuclear weapons.

When she came to my house canvassing, I reminded her of this, though she claimed not to have received my letter, saying a lot of her post had been stolen.

She said she was most anxious to deal with my questions, but needed to find out what the correct answers were.

I assured her that I wanted her views, not the party line (several of the other candidates who replied were willing to vote against their party on these issues). She laboriously copied down the questions in her note book and promised to be in touch, though I did not receive a reply.

I suspect she may be typical of younger, fun-loving Tories. Several who were out canvassing, bedaubed with blue badges and stickers, said we should keep Trident, and it was all right, because we wouldn’t actually use it. They had never heard of the Non-Proliferation Treaty currently being discussed in New York, which Oxford is celebrating now with a Peace Flag on the Town Hall.

They were chattering to each other about trends and polls, but chiefly about a Champagne garden party they were planning.

Yahoo Henrys and Henriettas?

Irene Gill, Yarnells Hill, Oxford