I nearly choked when I read Adam Trimingham's remarks that by retiring at an early age Ivor Caplin was "following the example of other Labour luminaries including Stephen Byers and Estelle Morris" (The Argus, November 10).

I thought they were a couple of low-calibre ministers who jumped before they were pushed. There may be parallels between them but, having seen Ivor Caplin crouching on the front bench nodding his full agreement with Geoff Hoon over Iraq, it occurs to me he may have a guilty conscience and decided to jump ship.

Certainly a number of people in the area, including his own supporters, have been far from impressed by his record on this subject and it may have dawned on him that the electorate has lost confidence in the current administration.

Neil Kelly,

-Hove