MARK Starr (Your Letters, November 4) is seeking on behalf of his party to trade on the historical reputation of Lord Nelson.

The Napoleonic Wars were the culmination of over a century of struggle for domination between Britain and France, but Mr Starr tries to suggest they were fought to defend British democracy and individual liberties.

Actually, British governments of the period feared democracy as much as they feared the French. They more than once suspended habeas corpus (i.e. they legalised imprisonment without trial) and banned as 'seditious' peaceful assemblies, speeches and publications. Such actions were aimed against the London Corresponding Society and other organisations, which sought (for example) to reform the (highly undemocratic) parliament of Old Corruption.

The draconian (supposedly anti-terrorist) measures of our own day, again including imprisonment without trial, are equally drafted in London rather than Brussels or Paris. But they stem from the Government's adhesion to foreign, defence and security policies and priorities set in Washington.

Mr Starr makes much noise about European encroachments on British sovereignty, yet he does not mention that in many areas Mr Blair abandons this sovereignty voluntarily by doing exactly what Mr Bush tells him.

Still, Mr Starr can be reassured that not all the British people have dozed off. Many are well aware of the several threats to our liberties, not least from that posed by reactionary parties who seek to advance their agendas by making bogus 'historical' points and wrapping themselves in the flag.

UKIP if you want to. We shall be staying awake.

DR STEPHEN WRIGHT, Wilton Road, Malvern.