IT is unfair of Mr Arif Waghat (Letters, June 7), to criticise Jack Straw MP regarding his statements on policy on the situation in the Middle East.

Mr Straw makes his views crystal clear: "The Labour Party believes that Israel has a right to exist in peace and security and that the Palestinians have a right to establish a sovereign, viable and independent Palestinian state."

Surely, Mr Waghat cannot disagree with this.

As a keen Liberal Democrat, maybe Mr Waghat would like to know his own party's views on the Middle East: "On the Middle East and the appalling tragedy that is happening between Israel and the Palestinian people, we strongly support the Prime Minister," said Charles Kennedy, the Lib-Dem leader on April 10.

Indeed, Menzies Campbell, the Lib-Dem shadow foreign secretary, commenting on April 29 on Mr Straw's recent statement on the Israeli siege of Yasser Arafat, said: "There is nothing in the Foreign Secretary's statement with which I take issue, I offer him my support and indeed, congratulations."

It is hypocritical of Mr Waghat on the one hand to criticise Jack Straw, but on the other to go around campaigning for a party which agrees with his policies!

Coun DAVE SMITH (Sunnyhurst Ward), Avondale Road, Darwen.