I AGREE with Bryan Lawson on issues such as top-up fees and the Iraq war (Letters, May 14).

However polling during the General Election campaign suggested that most Labour voters he so despises were also against the Government on these issues.

Surely, when a highly unpopular Prime Minister such as Tony Blair is re-elected with a decent majority this tells us more about the state of the Conservative Party than it does Labour?

Does anyone remember when the Conservatives won a third term? I do - and I remember when they won a fourth as well.

I remember the unstable economy, high unemployment, negative equity, business failures, house repossessions, the underfunding of the NHS, rail privatisation, tax breaks for the rich, the persecution of minorities, the "sleaze" and I could go on.

Fortunately, it seems many other people can remember what life was like before 1997 too.

Maybe that's why not as many people vote Conservative these days.

Lastly, because I live in the Selby constituency, I assure Mr Lawson that John Grogan is sane and also an excellent local MP.

Richard Brown,

Horseman Avenue,

Copmanthorpe, York.

Updated: 10:42 Wednesday, May 18, 2005