NOW that our council elections are over, I should like to respond to Mohammed Aslam's letter headlined "Race relations body and and the public purse".

Let's go back to ground zero. I wrote (Evening News, Wednesday, April 16): "Correspondent Frank L Jones writes 'Martin Roberts is to stand for the British National Party. He is instantly denounced by the Chief Executive of the Worcester Racial Equality Council, Mohammed Aslam'."

Where does Mr Aslam get his imputations of "anger and frustration towards our views"?

There is no anger in those words, nor frustration.

I went on to ask a simple, and direct question, which was "...why is the Worcester Racial Equality Council meddling in the elections of our political representatives?"

I see no anger or frustration in that question and I resent the construction that has been placed upon my words.

I understand how Mr Aslam's involvement came about, but I submit that had any other public body commented upon the electoral merits of other mainstream parties there would have been the very devil to pay.

I believe what is sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander.

I stand by my opinion that organisations, funded, in the final analysis by we, the people, should not be commenting upon the merits, or otherwise, of political parties, especially in the run-up to elections.

I am an old "Englishman." I still believe that people have a right to say what they think without let or hindrance, even when I do not agree with them.

In today's increasingly politically correct world, such freedom of expression is being systematically killed off.

As regards my funding facts, I wrote what I obtained from the WREC's staff during a telephone conversation that took place on Wednesday, April 9.

If what I wrote was wrong - and it obviously was, because Mr Aslam has corrected it - then the fault either lies with those I talked to at the WREC, or my understanding of what was being said.

All I can say is that I do endeavour to write accurately.

N TAYLOR,

Worcester.