AS A Conservative Eastleigh Borough Councillor I am very minor in the scheme of things as 38 of the 44 Councillors are Liberal Democrats.

But I was extremely shocked at the treatment by the Liberal Democrats of one of their own.

I represent Hamble and Butlocks Heath with Suzy Hamel (she is a Liberal Democrat and I am a Conservative). We are also both Hamble Parish Councillors, and working very hard on the new local plan.

Suzy beat me in the 2012 Borough elections and I beat Malcolm Cross in the 2015 Borough elections.

Now Suzy who is a hardworking, intelligent, articulate, and in my opinion an excellent councillor representing her ward, has been deselected and replaced by Malcolm Cross. So as from May 2016 Suzy will not longer be a councillor.

Why is politics such a nasty, backstabbing, and in my opinion, undemocratic institution?

I, of course, will not be voting for Malcolm.

Elizabeth Lear

Hamble