I MUST apologise to R Johnson (Letters, May 29) for my arrogance and ignorance in wrongly blaming the Labour Party for the Jobseeker's Allowance - an error caused by misreading my own notes as to the date of its introduction.

My friend, who lost his job through ill-health, was told that he was not entitled to either of the Jobseekers Allowances because of his savings, so I have armed him with a copy of Mr Johnson's letter and told him to lodge an appeal.

My other friend who was made redundant, was surprised to learn that his redundancy pay was dependent upon his National Insurance contributions.

I must admit as well that I was rather pleased by Mr Johnson's implied suggestion that I was a Conservative supporter as normally I am accused of being a radical socialist.

My abject apologies to all Labour supporters for my error and I promise to be more careful in future before I ascribe blame to them.

G SMITH, Bold Street, Blackburn.

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