SIR – I agree with letter writer John Shearon that he has opinions of his own (Worcester News, August 8).

However, that is all his prolific output in these columns are – opinions.

He rarely attempts to develop an argument to underpin his opinions and often chooses to ignore inconvenient facts that question the rationale of his opinions.

His opinions of unions, for example, totally contradict what he complains about most.

While raging against the practices of private providers of everything from energy and water to NHS services and housing, he spares no criticism of unions even though they are the ordinary worker’s only powerful opposition to private capital and corporate power.

He has praised Margaret Thatcher for curbing union power. In the same breath, he professes support for the Labour Party which is financed by union members.

I have had continuous membership of my union for more than 40 years. It has not always been sweetness and light, but, unlike Mr Shearon, I have never sought to damage the unions by siding with the Tories in seeking the emasculation of the trades union movement.

Mr Shearon’s opinions put him somewhere between the Blairites and the Daily Mail, a mainstream position in today’s Labour Party, I suggest.

PETER NIELSEN Worcester