Letter: Christian message of John Smith's life

Sir: In today's issue (13 May) you print two tributes to John Smith, one by Andrew Marr, the other by Tam Dalyell. Neither makes any reference whatever to that which was the mainspring of Mr Smith's life and work, namely his Christian faith. How anyone can write of someone like him and omit such a salient feature of his life baffles description.

Is it wilful ignorance or pagan prejudice? Have we reached the stage in our contemporary society where it is no longer possible to make mention of sincerely held supernatural belief because it is thought polite to ignore something so regrettably old-fashioned? The consequence is that a good man has had much less than justice done to him.

Yours faithfully,

H. M. SPRINGBETT

Aberdaron, Gwynedd

13 May