READING both the story 'Tory Blair' will split Labour, says MEP" (LET, March 22) and Mr Walt Meadows' opinion that New Labour is heading for acrimony (LET, March 22), I could almost laugh if it wasn't so pitiable.

This assault on the integrity of the party by one of its stalwarts and that of a regular contributor to the letters page are as if a suicide squad from Tory Party headquarters had ordered a fixed-bayonets charge on a distant outpost using a foreign legionnaire to lead the assault.

But, being serious, Mike Hindley's opinions in 'Red Pepper' only demonstrate yet again that he is out of step with the party, but, like the soldier who thinks he's in line and everyone else is an outsider, he demonstrates some of the ill effects linked to a European, bunker mentality.

Mr Meadows, I think, has been listening too intently to the media. If he had read Bill Jacobs interview with Tony Blair (LET, March 11) thoroughly, he would have spotted the vital fact that his remarks on proposals for a Scottish parliament and regional assemblies were endorsed by your Opinion.

DUNCAN McVEE, Robin Bank Road, Darwen.

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