Letter: Good for a gossip

Sir: Politicians who operate a conspiracy of silence on gossip through the media, to ensure it does not reach those of us on the Clapham omnibus, are deluded.

A 73-year-old old lady has had her street cred raised at Wirral coffee mornings this week. She has been able to pass on the fact that one of her sons had heard the gossip about John Major over a year ago from my son. My son learnt it from me; I was party to the tale from a lady while playing bridge, shortly after John Major became Tory Party leader. She did not reveal her source, merely that it was neither political nor press.

My son also heard the gossip from friends at college who heard it from parents or at parties. The gossip was also alive and well in Berkshire, Hampshire and Lincolnshire. Gossip and rumour abound about many other politicians. But who am I to tell?

Yours faithfully,

DENISE SHACKELL

Richmond, Surrey