I HAVE just received Royston Smith’s latest election flyer, the only thing of note it contains is the fact he is a “local boy”.

So Martin Kyrle’s assumption that that is the only attribute he has to offer seems to be correct, also noted by the Rev Brian Strevens (Letters, August 9) and M Hoare (Letters, August 12).

I don’t remember the Tories having any reservations on his not being local, and considering Boris Johnson’s quest for a seat anywhere he can, and born in New York, it’s time Royston Smith stopped this disingenuous nonsense.

In the same issue Mr M Hoare records his interview with Rowenna Davis and found her to be comprehensively astute on local and national matters, which anyone making her acquaintance is very quickly made aware of.

Not to forget her work in charities and food banks. She has a record of being a competent councillor, a frequent visitor to Parliament, and conversant with its procedures. All in all a very worthy successor to J Denham.

We then have that ridiculous proposal by Royston Smith to introduce referendums locally on many issues. When it was pointed out that each referendum would cost £20,000, he then says it would be done online.

About a third of the electorate are, like myself, not online, ergo we would be disenfranchised, or having to be contacted by post, greatly adding to the cost, money much better spent elsewhere.

It could be seen as a device to relieve Royston Smith of taking responsibility for making any decisions on our behalf. Would he indeed introduce a referendum on whether he should theatrically ‘fall on his sword’ if we don’t have an EU referendum, as he proposes.

In the same issue of the Echo, the leading article comments on the huge level of debt in Hampshire alone, which is contributing to the increase in poverty and hardship.

Last week figures showed the wealth of the top 1,000 has doubled to £519 billion since 2010, yet by 2016 the earnings of the working class will have fallen more than at any time since 1874- 1880.

We now have 420 food banks, Barnardos report 3.5 million kids living in poverty. Hospitals have just reported a 71 per cent rise in malnutrition since 2010.

Apparently to Royston Smith the matter of his being a local boy is the extreme priority.

As I have said previously, better a competent outsider than an egotistical local boy ready to commit hari-kiri when the going gets tough.

D R Smith of Southampton