SIR - Recently in the House of Commons, politicians were criticising Robert Mugabe for his unlawful rule.

Surely they do not think for one minute the British public are going to applaud them, especially considering that this Government has known for more than a decade how Robert Mugabe has been responsible for countless acts of mass genocide, torture, letting his people starve and vote fixing?

It was only a couple of years ago that the England cricket team were planning to boycott playing in Zimbabwe, in protest of how Mugabe was treating his people.

In the end, the majority of the cricketers decided against a boycott, but this was mainly to do with our Government threatening to withdraw sponsorship in the form of Government funding.

The only reason why our Government is now protesting and making moral judgements against Mugabe's regime is simply to do with the fact that the opposition party in Zimbabwe is starting to get the upper hand.

In addition, Mugabe's own party members are starting to turn against him and the British Government can see the political tide is turning.

This Government is made up of hypocrites and their protests and moral judgements against Mugabe may be impressive among their peers, but it certainly doesn't wash with the majority of the British public.

Our Government's change of attitude is about economics, in respect to being able to continue trading with Zimbabwe and to continue developing British businesses there, which to date, total more than 300.

It has no connection to how the people of Zimbabwe are suffering, but more to do with keeping in favour with the opposition party, which will inevitably be taking over power soon.

Samuel Richards, Barbourne, Worcester