YOUR correspondent, Elizabeth Earle, describes Tony Blair as "a man of strong unswerving principle" (November 18).

Is this the same Tony Blair who told us that, if elected, he would not introduce top-up fees for students and then, when elected, proceeded to do just that?

Is this the same Tony Blair who told us clearly and unequivocally that Saddam Hussain had weapons of mass destruction and was a direct threat to this country when no firm evidence to that effect existed?

Is this the same Tony Blair who, as leader of the Labour Party, accepted £1 million for party funds from Bernie Ecclestone and then introduced legislation to exempt Formula One racing from a ban on tobacco advertising?

Is this the same Tony Blair who recently informed us that a resigning minister, who had given his free first class rail passes to his lover, arranged fast tracking for his lovers nanny's visa application and broken the ministerial code on three occasions, "had left office with his integrity intact?"

Richard Starks,

The Green,

Elvington, York.

...oh, the irony

WELL done Elizabeth Earle, as an exercise in the ironic you have my admiration.

You did not mention Mr Blair's masterly control of the public service unions over retirement age and pension guarantees, or the fact we all have to put in a few more years graft to pay for this.

His erudite handling of the Iraq war and his help for the American peace settlement, his iron grip on terrorism and crime, or his inspirational promotion of education, and indeed, transport, rail and road.

His wife, too, is active in charitable fields, at least of all the monies paid to her some five to ten percent go to charity.

Above this his family must be worth all the free holidays they can manage. We must be thankful for his munificence.

Mick Snowden,

Amotherby, Malton.

Updated: 10:56 Tuesday, November 22, 2005