WITH war declared and Britain involved contrary to the principles of International Law and against the wishes of British people, I think that it is appropriate to reflect just how badly both national and local politicians of all political persuasions have let us down during the last few decades.

Although I have never been nave enough to believe that politics was once a honourable profession, the dealings which have gone on to coerce economically weak states to back either the pro or anti-war view is not only disgraceful, but also immoral.

America, the most powerful country in the world has abused its position while British Governments, both past and present, have supported their actions without question.

Closer to home, politicians are impotent against the influence of big business.

Big companies

Indeed, some local councils end up doing deals with big companies to gain what they perceive as benefits for the community.

To make matters worse, political parties are reliant upon financial support from big business backers while individual politicians enter politics as a career and have to act accordingly.

Politicians continue to allow, in the interest of competition, big business to kill off small independent business ventures thus concentrating even more power in fewer hands.

As we face the biggest crisis of our times, surely it is now right to consider a major re-assessment of the machinery of government with the aim of putting the community back in charge?

M J LEVINS, Worcester.