Letter: In Brief

Sir: John Smith, the man who had made Old Labour electable with a 20-per-cent lead in the polls, died five years ago, the morning after his last public declaration: "All we ask is the chance to serve our country." Alas, with him Old Labour died and Thatcherism, disguised as "New Labour", secured its final triumph, snatching total victory from the jaws of complete defeat. The myth was promptly put about that Old Labour had never been electable.

GERARD MULHOLLAND

Chevilly-Larue, France