Jonathan Sheppard's claim that the Tories are the party of freedom and liberty begs the question "What freedoms do they stand for?"

Freedom - during their years of misrule - for market forces to prevail at the expense of unprecedented levels of unemployment? Freedom - if they ever regain office - for schools to abandon local government control at the expense of those vulnerable but uneconomic pupils with special needs whom LEAs currently subsidise and support? Freedom - which the Government is rightly challenging - for the blood-sports brigade to pursue its self-indulgent activities at the expense of hapless animals?

As for the Press attention given to Tony Blair's links with millionaires, the tabloids overlook both Margaret Thatcher and John Major being equally friendly with many of the same tycoons.

Only because Labour insists on publicising the larger donations to the party does it lay itself open to this kind of critical scrutiny.

Every bit of post-war legislation designed to protect people from the worst effects of racism, homophobia and sexism was introduced by a Labour government.

The faith in the Conservative Party displayed by Mr Sheppard borders on the naive and is at total variance with the facts.

-Rosemary Collins, Grove Hill, Brighton