Ivor Caplin ought to have said that appealing to John Prescott about the Falmer stadium is a waste of time.

All correspondence which isn't from his constituents goes straight to an official for a reply on his behalf.

The reality of politics today is that Prescott is just the animated figurehead of a government body.

A faceless official will present him with the decision they've made for him to make public along with "his" reasons for it.

So, unless someone has made a huge donation to the Labour Party, the decision Prescott "makes" will be to follow the planning inspector's recommendation and squash the Falmer development.

As a result, the three local MPs may lose their seats at the next general election.

But that is not Prescott's concern because his political future isn't at stake.

-William Bellchambers, Uckfield