The Government could easily restore its credibility on animal welfare issues by putting Tony Banks in charge of the department.

He has campaigned for animals for years. He does so because he actually likes animals, not because it looks good on election days and can be quietly forgotten when the votes are in the bag.

He said, in an interview for Cats Protection's magazine The Cat, that he would still campaign for animals even if people were spitting in his face for doing so. Animals need someone like that to fight for them.

-Miss R Reeves, Burford Road, Horsham