I WAS more than a little amused by the pretentious sentiments of Trisha Buzzard in the article 'Tory blasts Blair ego trip' (LET, June 12), particularly in the light of events over Europe which are occurring in the party she owes allegiance to.

If personalities are to be examined, a strong and decisive leader such as Tony Blair is better than a leader such as John Major, who is not only weak as the Eurosceptics in his party have just proved once again, but is now in a minority government kept alive by the good graces of the Ulster Unionists.

As for Tony Blair's outlook on democracy, look at the leadership question and the differences are apparent. The Labour party had an open and above board mass membership vote and the Tories had a closed one only open to their MPs.

Until her party can give all its members that kind of trust, her remarks are just hot air, designed to tell people aboard a sinking shop that disasters are only in movies.

The disgrace of it is she is arrogant enough to try to fool people into believing it.

DUNCAN MCVEE, Robin Bank Road, Darwen.

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