COUNCILLOR Alan Cottam (Letters, April 19) reminded readers that the Conservative Party is first, last and always the historically, authentic and legitimate party of privatisation.

Clearly green-eyed and envious, he states: "I don't think even Karl Marx would argue that introducing competitive tendering is not a Conservative policy." How true. As indeed New Labour has expansively demonstrated, his party's monopoly is now over.

But does it really matter who thought of it first? The real concern with it is the ever-growing harmful consequences of privatisation sell-offs.

We have Consignia -- if that new £2million title is still with us -- forecasting 30,000 dismissals partially or wholly due to the move to turn over profitable large sections of the Post Office and Royal Mail into private hands.

It echoes of past privatisation of water, gas, electricity and the mines, leaving thousands redundant, communities destroyed, cuts in terms and conditions for the many and telephone figure salaries and dividends for the few, with British Rail topping the lot as the dead hand of private profit over public service.

However, Coun Cottam's understandable lament, and complaint of political cross-dressing and policy pilfering is not confined to New Labour. We now have the fascist British National Party showing opportunism that Alan Shearer would do well to surpass, reportedly distributing leaflets in Burnley opposing public service privatisation, hi-jacking trade union campaigns and filling the political vacuum formerly occupied by the Labour Party.

The elbowing by the BNP into the crowded 'middle ground' of today's politics, has to be seen for what it is. It would be truly tragic for working people if this cynical ploy was to gather even more favour than it has already.

Unquestionably, the Tories have always been the number-one privateers. Of far greater matter is to continue the debate on privatisation and its true value to society.

COUN DON RISHTON, Wensley Fold Ward, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.