HOW much longer to we have to put up with the sad twosome of Ray Hill and his sidekick Richard Newman-Thompson; aided and abetted by a student who I feel sure they know well; pursuing in your columns John Whitelegg over a matter of vanishingly small importance?

If they are really concerned about truth and lies then let them address themselves to the liars, connivers, cheats and hypocrites within the New Labour party they so earnestly covet?

Unlike John Whitelegg and the Greens their New Labour party is a party of government and so their cheating and hypocrisy matters.

Can these two champions of honesty and integrity explain how safe seats and jobs are given to Tories rather than to long serving and committed Socialists? Can they explain how the continuing military adventure of their leader, and his daft American chum, has killed more innocent people than the original, vile act of aggression?

Can they explain how we should forgive their liars, but not others; as their leader does?

Can they explain how the continued selling off of public services squares with their opposition when the Tory government were doing the same thing? Can they explain why the promise to pensioners to restore the link with earnings has been betrayed?

Can they explain their continued support of a discredited honours system and their ready acceptance of tainted money from almost anywhere? Can they explain why, if New Labour wants to continue with Tory policies, people should support them? So, come on chaps, let's deal with real questions of honesty and integrity, and aren't the rest of us lucky because you can answer them?

Now stop worrying about John Whitelegg and get your teeth into some real issues.

OK?

Barry Bell

Croft Avenue,

Slyne