Letter: MPs' private lives

Sir: The sexuality of individual Members of Parliament should not be of public interest; it is of course of interest in the intolerant society in which we live.

John Major must be cursing the Prime Minister's good fortune in having a colleague who puts party loyalty before self-interest and we should all commiserate with Ron Davies for what must have been a frightening experience and for the sacrifice he has inflicted upon himself.

He may wish to retire from politics with dignity and I should be the first to offer him my best wishes for the future. He could, however, decide to take a stand and to encourage homosexual and bisexual Members of Parliament from both sides of the House to "come out" publicly, in force, to free themselves from possible threat of blackmail and public humiliation. Lord Tebbit might have a few surprises!

AMANDA DICKSON

London SW8