JIMMY Reid's latest diatribe about new Labour and Tony Blair plumbed new depths of distortion and disinformation (April 9).
The Labour leader did not compare Scotland's proposed parliament to an English parish council but contrasted the Tories' hypocritical opposition to its proposed tax-varying powers with their acceptance of just such power being presently invested in even the lowliest parish council.
Equally, when asked about sovereignty ''as an English MP,'' he replied, ''as an English MP,'' reiterating in the process, for the umpteenth time, Labour's manifesto pledge to decentralise political power and establish a Scottish parliament, with the consent of the people, by legislating for same at Westminster in the first year.
The manifesto also makes crystal-clear Labour's intention to return Scotland's water services to local democratic control. Any suggestion to the contrary merely aids and abets Labour's opponents and dilutes Labour's message.
If, as suggested, Labour's activists in Jimmy Reid's constituency take to the streets without literature bearing Tony Blair's image (which I doubt) then they are fighting the election with one hand tied behind their backs.
If he doubts this let him ask his fellow citizens one single question on his next sojourn into the real world. On May 2 who do you want as Prime Minister, John Major or Tony Blair? That is the reality unless of course Jimmy Reid is throwing his hat into the ring!
Allan Wilson,
12 Dipple Court, Kilbirnie.
April 11.
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