I AM writing to congratulate Tanya Palmer on winning the recent by-election for the Forest of Dean Labour Party for Coleford West, quashing the worrying rise of UKIP.

She joins the ranks of Dean Labour councillors who are driven to protect our proud local heritage from the rise of the right.

 Not least among these Labour campaigners was the late Frank Baynham - stalwart health campaigner and ardent Labour councilor - which her victory rightfully honours.

As the Conservatives hemorrhage support thanks to Harper's willingness to sell our Forest or by his support for our local community hospitals services to leave the NHS in favour of the market or be it his backing of a new generation of giant nuclear power on the Severn, the Liberal Democrats are left equally bereft following the betrayal of its national leader.

Labour meanwhile are on the rise, both locally and nationally. No-one can be in any doubt that Councillor Tim Gwilliam won much support for his grass roots work on the RFDC Berry Hill campaign. He is classic Labour and joins Steve Parry-Hearn, our recently appointed Labour Party Parliamentary candidate for the Forest and together with fellow councillors and members alike are busy building a stronger, community-centric Forest Labour.

I want to remind readers that the Blair and Brown years are behind us. It is now up to local Labour supporters to come back to Labour and come back to the party which led the call for prudence and patience and - most importantly - evidence in the argument to attack Syria recently.

Harper voted agains evidence and for the attack. And so he's exposed as out of touch with British people (and  world opinion), just like his party.

One Nation Labour shows that the lessons of the Iraq war disgrace have been learned. Not so for the hawks in the Conservative Party who supported attacks on Syria from the off.

Back in 2002/2003 I was nominated Secretary for the Forest of Dean Stop the War campaign. Then we challenged New Labour's clamour to support Bush's escapade.

But today I see One Nation Labour as more than the only hope against the nasty party and UKIP; I see today's Labour as the rightful place for my vote and support.

I hope readers will join me and other ordinary people in the Forest to build our party. This is one way to ensure Harper is punished for his support of trying to sell off our Forest heritage.

It is also the only way to ensure we can reverse the bedroom tax and repeal the inhuman Health and Social Welfare bill which is destroying our NHS.

UKIP will never be able to do that as they will never have a majority in Parliament. That is why they are so keen to cut deals where anti-European Tories stand in the same constituency.

They used to say there's no choice between Labour and the Tories. Now there clearly is. The same cannot be said for UKIP and the Conservatives.

– Labour supporter, St Briavels.