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I read your letter of 7th July, 1999 with interest. I note its tone was generally hostile. I am simply not going to be drawn into a long correspondence on this issue.
You will recall that on the matter of the alleged cash payments, the Standards & Privileges Committee was divided, and concluded that it could neither add nor subtract from the Commissioner's findings. On the other matters, however, especially the undeclared gifts received by Mr. Hamilton, the Committee concluded unanimously that, had he still been a Member it would have recommended a substantial period of suspension. If the people of Tatton had wished such a man to represent them, they would have voted for him. They chose not to. There is a word for that. It is called democracy.
I would note that, despite his continuing attacks on me, I have continued to support Mr. Hamilton's right to test the disputed matters in court. I have also supported his contention, that there was no proper appeals procedure in his case. I recommended to him that he give evidence to the Neill Committee which he has done. I very much hope that the Committee will recommend that the new appeals procedure when it is in place will be retrospective. You claim in your letter that my actions add to the continuing injustice against Mr. Hamilton. In fact, my only public statements about him have been in his support, as you may see from my newspaper column last week.
I assure you that I shall continue to serve for the whole parliamentary term.
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