I WRITE in response to the comments of Councillor John Byrne, Labour leader of Bury Council, and his political allies, including Pam Walker and Gareth Hughes (Letters, April 2).

I am mystified by the derogatory and provocative claims of Coun Byrne, and disturbed by insulting words such as "fundamentalism" and suggestions from others that we go and "live elsewhere", which could be interpreted as racist and prejudicial.

Coun Byrne deviously asks if I am "the same Khalid Hussain" who on December 21, 2003 "denied any connections with the Tories".

How could I possibly deny any connections with my party, having given numerous media interviews, such as the one with Sky TV and the BBC in my capacity as a delegate at the Conservative Party conference in Blackpool in October 2003?

Furthermore, Coun Byrne states: "I have to say that I do not believe that Mr Hussain has been inundated with calls from anyone".

For his information, I was provided with a petition containing some 200 signatures complaining about the obscene Sloggi poster placed in the vicinity of religious buildings. This petition was then forwarded to the Advertising Standards Authority.

The petition is not "censorship", as described by Coun Byrne, but rather a legitimate request on behalf of local residents and worshippers. Coun Byrne should get his facts right.

I am proud to be a Conservative. Coun Byrne and New Labour should realise that democracy is exercised through the ballot box, and not through insult and "spin".

KHALID HUSSAIN,

Inman Street, Bury.