Dear editor, I take issue with the letter from Richard Shepherd (“People are fed up with party politics”) in last week’s edition of the Milford Mercury.

After decrying party politics, Mr Shepherd goes on to sing the praises of the Independent Group that runs Pembrokeshire County Council.

The statutory title of this organisation is Independent Political Group.

While it is true that it is not registered as a political party with the Electoral Commission, it resembles a political party in many important ways.

For instance, it holds a private group meeting on the day before every meeting of full council.

It is not clear what is the purpose of these meetings, if not to instruct IPG members how to vote.

That theory is borne out by the fact that they almost invariably vote as a block.

Mr Shepherd might ask himself how likely it is that, without some sort of central direction, 39 supposedly independently-minded people would be in uniform agreement.

He might also wonder how it is that all the posts attracting special responsibility allowances (Cabinet members, chairs of scrutiny committees etc) are reserved for members of the IPG.

The fact that this group conceals its true nature behind the description “independent” cannot, as Mr Shepherd seems to believe, be a virtue.

If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck - and all that.

Mike Stoddart Truly independent member for Hakin Court Farm Liddeston Milford Have