REGARDING columnist Eric Leaver's comments (LET, March 19) regarding ten Blackburn Labour councillors 'threatening to quit' if war broke out without UN backing, your reporter Clare Cook quoted two Labour member councillors currently serving on the executive board as saying that they would 'consider their positions (LET, March 14). The remaining eight Labour councillors on your list have been reported as 'signing a letter of protest'.

What is more significant is that was not the British National Party but the Lancashire Evening Telegraph itself that pointed out that the ten councillors concerned are all Asian. The councillors have also stated that 'their stance has nothing to do with religion'.

MP Jack Straw further added to the segregation with his meetings with 'Muslim leaders,' Lancashire Council of Mosques etc. Does Mr Straw honestly think that this is an Asian or Muslim issue? After all, the troops now out in the Gulf are British and concerns are being expressed by all British citizens and not by a select minority.

The ten councillors who have signed the 'letter of protest' should be seen and reported as councillors, unless of course, Mr Leaver and Ms Cook perhaps think that more newspapers would actually be sold by making a race or religious issue out of it.

So far as the different communities in and around Blackburn and Darwen are concerned, religious communities and various 'cultures' could and, perhaps should make a concerted effort to work together on the issue. Unless, of course, they prefer not to on religious grounds or other such nonsense.

Meanwhile there is a war involving Britain. Whatever our own views we must all spare a thought for those whose lives will be directly affected by our government's actions. My heart goes out to them. Likewise, I am sure do a great many more.

The British National Party and many other people will see this as Tony Blair's war, and if he and Mr Straw happen to lose their highly-paid jobs over this, then they have only themselves to blame.

COUNCILLOR ROBIN EVANS (British National Party), Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Footnote: We reported the original matter because it was a news story. Subsequent comment by our columnist is not necessarily the opinion of this newspaper.

While the BNP may wish to be dissociated from it on this occasion, it has sought to make selective use of Eric Leaver's remarks in the past for its own advantage -- Editor.