PERHAPS I was not clear enough in my friendly critique of the Green Party published a couple of weeks ago.

I was not saying that Greens were unaware of the nature of capitalism in terms of its monopoly, unaccountability and so on. What I was saying was they have no viable alternative to capitalism as a system in itself.

I am also well aware that 'working class' status is not to be equated with intrinsic virtue over other sections of society. I know only too well that the Green heirarchy do not subscribe to the working-class-versus-the-rest ethic allegedly held by myself.After all, they regularly call public meetings on things like civil rights, war in Iraq, the environment and public transport issues without ever inviting any elected representatives of the trades union movement or of sections of workers directly involved in those areas to express their views.

Until Greens become genuinely more receptive and reflective of the opinions of working class people and stop rejecting genuine co-operation with organisations which do represent these interests they will continue to be only a marginal reformist organisation which fails to address the fundamental problem of capitalism and avoids its only real solution - the establishment of working class people in control of the means of production, exchange, finance, land, vital services and education. That means Socialism.

There is no alternative 'third way'. It is that stark a choice, whether we like it or not.

Steve Metcalfe, Lancaster.