Hustings work

Irrespective of the merits of the electoral scheme to vote for non-sitting candidates, as advocated in these pages by a few correspondents, Walter Allan’s hope for the resurrection of Lord Sutch (Letters, 4 April) is surely misplaced.

What our city needs is not entertainment, but sound management and good leadership.

It is our job as voters to make sure we get the best possible councillors – not by whingeing and hand-wringing after the election, but by assessing the competency of candidates before they are elected. There are few better places to do so than local hustings.

Harald Tobermann

Pilrig Street

Edinburgh