FURTHER to your reports about Councillor Mike Madigan's deselection (LET, November 10 and 12), what is it that makes Blackburn Labour councillors run round like headless chickens?

Here you have one of their most experienced councillors, with 25 years service, being kicked out and told to learn the trade of being a politician all over again - by the Labour Party's political thought police.

That being the case, why are the rest not being treated in a similar manner?

Or is it that they have been accepted and identified as passing the test of obeying the new commandment of Labour - that is "complete obedience to the leader" - and now pass as Tony Blair clones-yesmen.

Labour is playing a very dangerous game with the democracy of the country, having done untold damage with its meddling with devolution, attempting to alter local government representation and the destruction of the House of Lords, without first having a realistic alternative. If the Prime Minister persists in making life peers of 35-year-olds simply because they are Labour Party supporters, it is a strange precedent and only suggests that he wants a second house that will perform when he pulls the strings.

Councillor Madigan should do what the French have done - give them the two finger salute - and defend his corner by standing as Independent Labour.

WALT MEADOWS, Whalley New Road, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.