DURING this election campaign, I am concerned with who will represent Bolton North East in the next parliament. There are many important local and national issues at stake.

I hope that all candidates will value human life from the point of conception till natural death. Every human life is precious, without exception. We need strong support for the family, the fundamental unit of the human race, which needs to be nurtured, and protected, especially at times of illness, homelessness, bereavement, and violence.

We need to build our community in the interest of the Common Good. Where decisions should be made at the appropriate level, by subsidiarity. Solidarity, between classes should be strengthened. The divisive nature of politics must be healed. Exploitation should not be a means of 'getting on'.

As a supporter of Catholic aid agency CAFOD, I hope that candidates of all parties in Bolton North East will consider global issues too, and commit to build on Britain's proud record in looking outwards and working with others to tackle poverty, inequality and climate change.

We live in an interconnected world. To say we can't help people at home if we help them abroad is to present a false choice. We are big enough to do both.

Peter Sharples

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Sharples