I have looked at your web site and notice that you have changed my entry to "?".  As I made clear in our recent conversation, I am a Eurosceptic, not a doubtful:  I abhor EU integration,  I would have no serious objection if the European Parliament were abolished; I genuinely think most citizens wouldn't notice if the European Commission were abolished too, and i would never vote for the abolition of the pound - ever.

If you write about me please can you do so accurately.  Thankyou.

Yours sincerely

Richard Bacon

I was Richard's agent in Vauxhall in 1997. You are quite wrong - Bacon is a Sceptic. I presume you have followed the original Times list which also wrongly called him a Europhile. Bacon was so furious that he drove to Wapping and harangued the Times building with a megaphone. The Times later published an amended list which mentioned that Bacon had done enough to convince them they had got it wrong originally. The Times didn't advise Sceptics to vote for him though, as Vauxhall's MP was and is Kate Hoey who has the impeccable credentials of having broken the Party whip to vote against Maastricht!

I should add that although this mail is sent from my PC at my law firm, Richard has not asked me to sue you for defamation (yet).

Sincerely,

Richard Forsdyke.

Dear Dr Gabb

I was unaware of your web site Candidlist until last week in Blackpool a journalist friend mentioned that he had been surprised to see me listed on the site as a Europhile.

Having now found your site, Im surprised too! You mention on the site that you actively welcome information from candidates if they feel they have been misrepresented. I am therefore writing to you to set out my position.

In the last election I stated in my election address under the heading The Nation that "I strongly oppose attempts to break up the United Kingdom or to hand over further power to Europe". I refrained from any mention of the single currency at all.

The Daily Telegraphs analysis of Tory candidates election addresses thus correctly placed me in the category: "anti-Brussels tone but no mention of Euro".

My beliefs were also apparent in the Q&A section of my election newspaper where I cited Richard Shepherd MP in response to the question "Which Member of Parliament do you most admire?"

On election day itself , Thursday 1st May 1997, The Times ran (on page 11) a full page list Candidates who deserve the Eurosceptic vote. In the centre of the page was an article Europe is the one big issue which explained that The Times preferred Labour Eurosceptics to Tory Eurosceptics since "the greater their number, the more difficult it will be for a Blair government to embrace integration".

The article went on to state: "Our preferences thus lead us to endorse the opponents to several Conservatives. In some cases, the Tory is a genuine sceptic who would otherwise deserve support but in The Timess judgement Labour sceptics are more valuable. In Vauxhall, for example, Kate Hoey is our choice, even though the Tory candidate Richard Bacon has convinced our researchers of his sceptical credentials. Mr Bacon had been classified in Mondays Times as a Europhile but he is one of several Conservatives who have subsequently clarified their position to the satisfaction of our research team. We, in turn, have amended our lists".

I have never made any comments public or private that would lead anyone to suppose that I am "generally enthusiastic about EU integration and supportive of the Euro" for the simple reason that I am against further EU integration and totally opposed to abolishing the pound - ever.

I would be most grateful if you could amend your web site.

With thanks
Yours sincerely
Richard Bacon

Dear Mr Bacon,

Let me apologise in writing for my lateness in replying to your e-mails of correciton.  As said in our telephone conversations, I have had trouble with receving e-mails via Demon Internet.  This is now solved.

I fully accept that you are a Sceptic, and confirm that I have already changed your classification.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Sean Gabb
Candidlist Webmaster