In his attempt to join the ranks of the part-time millionaire MPs on the Tory benches, Geoffrey Theobald seems to have had an attack of wishful thinking when he says Labour's popularity has disastrously declined (November 11).

Labour has led the Tories in the polls - bar a two-week blip in September - since October 1992, uprecedented for a party in opposition or government.

The Labour government has retained its popularity because it is investing billions in schools and hospitals while keeping the economy healthy.

Labour is, of course, unpopular with those who back Tory plans to slash £16 billion from public spending, by abolishing things such as the £200 winter fuel payment to pensioners in order to fund tax cuts for the wealthy.

-Warren Morgan, Maresfield Road, Brighton