A LEADER is a person whom others are willing to follow, for what they believe to be their common good.

My generation still believes that the fundamental principle of leadership is personal example. "The art of leadership is to take the people with you", said Sir John Harvey-Jones.

Political correctness over past years has seen the development of positive discrimination in various guises, with disastrous results.

The resultant administrative ineptitude, loss of morale, the often unedifying spectacle of "spanners being thrown into the works", by the disgruntled is another problem.

Dominant, malicious, back-biting, ambitious morons of both sexes, no matter how well-connected, make poor leaders.

The selection, training and development of personnel in our Armed Forces is second-to-none, a system experienced by Iain Duncan Smith, who has, in my opinion, all the qualities of a credible leader of the Conservative Party.

Mr Duncan Smith is a sound family man, a genuine patriot of great ability, with his feet firmly on the ground.

He is the choice of people, inside and outside the Conservative Party, as a future leader of our nation.

COUNTY COUNCILLOR TOM WAREING,

Redditch Crabbs Cross Division.