SIR - While I normally find the utterings of George Cowley entertaining and amusing I feel that he is stretching credulity to describe Tony Blair as a patriot, as such loyalty he possesses is directed to his own interests such as remaining in power as long as he wishes.

Thankfully, with every new failure and U-turn of his government and the latest "sleaze".investigations, his tenure of office may be somewhat curtailed, when of course he will probably be offered a beneficial position as a cheerleader to George Bush. His recent performances on Prime Minister's Question Time demonstrate his almost unblemished record in never giving a straight answer to a question, the usual reply being a comparison of Labour's record against the opposition parties albeit that such a long period has elapsed since his first election success that such comparisons lack credibility.

Regretfully I cannot see a significant improvement following the expected elevation of Gordon Brown. Finally, could I suggest that when John Prescott finally bites the dust we may see him rise again as chief croupier at the Dome Casino graced perhaps with the title of Two Dice John.

G WALTON,