Conservative MP Jonathan Sayeed distorted the facts about my Home Energy Conservation Bill (Letters, July 26).

Anyone who knows my record knows I was not seeking to "protect" the government but was trying to ensure these essential measures became law.

I had sought to move the amendment in question at report stage but I withdrew it.

The amendment was not essential to the effectiveness of the bill and was not acceptable to the government on the basis of legal advice, which it could not ignore.

Mr Sayeed knows perfectly well that private members bills only succeed with government support so, in copying my earlier amendment and moving it, he knew he was wrecking the bill.

I am saddened that a small number of Labour MPs were foolish enough to vote for the amendment as well, thereby ensuring it was carried. That vote killed the bill, despite all my efforts to resolve the situation.

However, the Government wants the measures in my bill to become law and there will be steps to enact them in the next session of Parliament. If Mr Sayeed and his colleagues had really wanted to help vulnerable people, he would not have chosen to posture, thereby wrecking effective positive measures.

-Des Turner MP, Kemp Town, Brighton