WELL, what a turn up, or turnip, Paul Browne has turned out to be. Loyalty to friends is one thing, but to admit (LET, June 18) in a court of law that he is ignorant of the social security benefits system makes people wonder whether his 25 years as a councillor have really been worthwhile.

As a councillor of whatever party, his main brief is to advise clients on where to seek redress for grievances and, presumably, have a working knowledge of statutory rights.

It now appears, from his admission in Blackburn Magistrates' Court, that this is far from the case and one needs to ask why.

He says he was bailing out a friend, but it might be added that, no matter what the circumstances, this friend was also a councillor and in a position to be aware of how and what knowledge he needed to advise people.

When a leading citizen, councillor and former mayor feels it necessary, by accident or design, to mislead the Social Security - a guardian of the taxpayers' purse - then, serious questions on his fitness to carry on as a councillor need to be asked.

DUNCAN MCVEE, Robin Bank Road, Darwen.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.