AMID all the current furore regarding asylum seekers, the most ridiculous and insulting remarks made recently were attributed to the leading Labour light, Clive Soley.

He described today's pensioners as 'racist.'

Tony Blair should go the whole hog and issue his minions with orders to zip up the mouths of those of us who disagree with the leader's views.

If Voltaire were alive today and living in this country, he would do well to remain silent -- because were he to reiterate his well known attitude to free speech, he would find himself incarcerated in the Tower of London in double quick time.

J FIELDING, St Cecilia Street, Great Harwood.