Wendy Yuan claims the riding “belongs to the Liberals” [“Kingsway riding heats up”, August 26–September 2]. Such arrogant presumption suggests she shares the attitude of entitlement of her notorious predecessor, David Emerson. As a defeated candidate, Ms. Yuan should know better than most not to take the support of the people for granted.

Of course, it’s possible that Ms. Yuan simply meant to say that the electors of Vancouver Kingsway ordinarily vote Liberal and so are likely to soon return to their natural political home. That theory, however, is at variance with the riding’s actual voting history.

Over the 50-odd years of its existence, Vancouver Kingsway has returned CCFers and New Democrats to Parliament 11 times, beginning with Angus MacInnis in 1953 and most recently Don Davies in 2008. The Conservatives won the riding once (in 1958), while the Liberals won it five times, including their infamous victory in 2006.

The NDP’s relative success in Vancouver Kingsway undoubtedly has much to do with the quality of representation provided by such illustrious MPs as Grace MacInnis and Ian Waddell. By all accounts Davies, the current MP, is capable, articulate, and hard-working. He certainly compares favourably to the most recent Liberal (turned Conservative) MP for the riding.

> Stephen Phillips / Vancouver