Letter: Taming the tabloids

Sir: It is not in the general interest for the tabloid press - aided and abetted by so-called PR consultants and sanctimonious commentators - to destroy public figures because of the manner of their private lives (criminality apart).

Successive governments know this, but fail to act, apparently because they are scared of losing the support of the ghastly owners and editors of the scandal sheets.

Would not a simple piece of legislation bring to an end to much of this muck-racking? Make it illegal - and subject to fines, imprisonment of the editor and ultimately closure - for material to be published about members of the Royal Family or either house of Parliament which is based on information for which money has been paid to an informant.

ANTHONY NEVILLE

Lydd, Kent