THE Freedom of Information Act, referred to by columnist Julian Cole (November 15), will certainly not be delayed. It has already been dumped.

What may be delayed is Tony's Freedom To Withhold Information Act.

Compared with other anti-democratic measures from the New Labour team, this hardly merits a sigh. No doubt it is more significant than a footballer's sex life, but far less disturbing than the dumping of electoral reform or the transformation of the upper chamber into Tony's Clubhouse.

President Bush is often cited as the world's most powerful politician, but not even he would dare meddle so blatantly with the US constitution as Spinning Tony has meddled with ours.

Which other western leader would have dared treat people's rights with such contemptuous disregard? Which other nation would have allowed him to get away with it?

William Dixon Smith,

Welland Rise,

Acomb, York.

Updated: 10:59 Wednesday, November 21, 2001