ARJAMAND Farooqui's criticism of the Liberal Democrats (Letters, March 19) is quite unjust.

I joined the Lib Dems some years ago because they have sensible policies and because history has shown us that both the Conservatives and Labour have failed the country and so has the two-party system.

Liberal Democrats across the country are united in their belief the war against Iraq should only have taken place when legitimised by UN resolutions.

Since the Crabbs Cross by-election is the first electoral opportunity following the diplomatic breakdown and commencement of hostilities and voting is the only true way of voicing an opinion in a democracy, Nigel Hicks was quite correct to urge people to use the election as an expression of their discontent if they feel it.

It is not opportunism, it is the democratic process.

Malcolm Hall

Chairman

Redditch & Inkberrow Liberal Democrats

Winyates