ADRIAN Shurmer (Letters, April 12) asks how this country became known as part of 'Great' Britain. The answer is quite simple -- they took up arms against the weakest countries around the world. They slaughtered anyone who opposed them, wiped out civilisations and then simply called themselves 'Great.'

Pure 'knee-jerk,' pure 'lowest common denominator.' Pure 'capitalism.'

P ORMEROD (Mr), St Ives Road, Blackburn.