DUNCAN McVee (Letters, April 19), ought to laugh while he can, for it's certain there will be very little to laugh about at the next election - if we have a socialist administration.

He suggests that because the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's Opinion column endorses some of Tony Blair's rambling that it's kosher. Nothing could be further from the truth - time will prove that.

Never has a political leader so shamelessly taken to wearing the clothes of another politician.

John Major will no doubt accept this as a great accolade for his policies as Mr Blair spends so much time in the Tory nest that many proud Labourites must be turning in their graves, for these people were true to their principles.

The socialist stampede to grab the Tories' golden egg before it hatches is unprecedented.

Mr McVee's reference to a 'suicide squad' is rather timely as we will see one of the biggest slaughters of the innocents in British history when the true colours of Labour are unfolded once again.

I remember the 'good old days' under Labour - tax at 90 per cent, purchase tax at 90 per cent, a 40 per cent increase on cigarettes in one jump. Just a few of the delights imposed by Labour to pay for their inadequacies and incompetence.

WALT MEADOWS, Whalley New Road, Blackburn.

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