SIR - On October 31 last year, opposition MP Peter Luff supported the county fire brigade union's campaign against the creation of a regional fire control in Wolverhampton.

Whatever happened to the traditional Conservative Party hostility towards workers' unions, such as sequestrating unions' assets, tapping unions' telephone lines and condemning them as the enemy within?

Mr Luff expressed his concern for the loss of jobs and local accountability. I wonder where was his concern for the millions of job losses and the misery of the unemployed when his party was last in government.

Then, on February 28 this year, Mr Luff was reported to oppose the Government's proposal to merge the West Midlands Constabulary with neighbouring forces.

Mr Luff suggested that the Government should put the proposal to a referendum. Again, I do not remember the Conservative government putting Britain's Common Market membership or the poll tax to a referendum.

It makes me cringe when MPs oppose parliamentary debates without any apparent real conviction, but for opposition sake. It is no small wonder there are such low turnouts at General Elections. The electorate does not take kindly to having their intelligence insulted.

L SPITERI,

Worcester.