Sir – Councillor Serge Lourie’s continued attempts to conjure up a story about Zac Goldsmith’s donations discredits his own position as leader of the council and the local Liberal Democrat party.

As I explained in my earlier letter, while Members of Parliament receive generous publicly- funded office and communication allowances, parliamentary candidates have to fund their own administrative assistance and literature.

Not only has Coun Lourie chosen to ignore this, in his letter “Attempting to be an MP” he misleads about the charitable status of School Food Matters.

This is a charitable company limited by guarantee No 06657048 and I believe he was aware of the fact when he wrote his letter, but if not he could have phoned the administrator to check.

The quality of school food and how it is prepared and served concerns many people and I hope Coun Lourie will apologise both for trying to impugn Zac Goldsmith’s integrity and any damage he may have done to the credibility of this important campaign by misrepresenting its charitable position.

The current financial climate is challenging for everyone, not least the council which has just wasted around a million pounds on a bungled recycling scheme.

Rather than pursue this mean-spirited little personal vendetta against Zac Goldsmith I am sure residents, who are facing higher food and fuel bills, would prefer Coun Lourie and his colleagues to focus on providing efficient services without squandering any more of their hard-earned money.

PAMELA FLEMING
Councillor South Richmond ward
Chairman Richmond Park Conservative Association