The article about David Amess' comments on Tony Blair's departure and denigratory comparison to Margaret Thatcher's leaving cannot go unchallenged (July 30).

Unlike Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher resigned when she realised her own party was on the verge of kicking her out. She was effectively dismissed as a political liability.

Having come to power promising to "bring harmony where there is discord", she set about destroying the unions with police power - the first time in this country riot police were employed in strike situations.

She also made savage public spending cuts, leaving people waiting years for operations, and presided over a recession that saw riots all over the land. She made no acknowledgement unrest in the young, and crime generally, were linked to unemployment.

The riot police, who cut their teeth on the miners, were forced to withdraw from many a no-go areas. This culminated in the Broadwater Farm riots, during which PC Keith Blakelock was hacked to death.

Then the lady set about creating a false boom that could only end in a disastrous bust, and the worst housing crash in living memory with record repossessions and interest rates as high as a house.

She had to go and wise heads in her Government knew it, even if David Amess did not. I notice he hasn't appeared in the Echo for some time now, doubtless keeping his head down.

I wager this is nothing more than an attempt to cover his seat.

He may be in fear Gordon Brown may call an early election after the "silly season" which, thanks to David Amess, got off to a terrific start hereabouts.

John Haran
Broadway West
Leigh