Letter: Hypocrisy and dirty tricks shame Labour

Sir: The Labour Party's use of the Freedom of Information Act to dig for dirt on Michael Howard reaches new depths in the British political scene.

Mr Howard's career as Home Secretary is a matter of public record and only those with honourable intentions, which excludes campaigning politicians, should be allowed to delve into the Home Office archives on his ministry. If Labour are the inevitable winners of the election, as most suggest, one wonders why they would risk the shame of being exposed as grubby opportunists. One wonders not for long. There has always been immorality in politics but never so brazenly as under "New Labour". That and the Iraq war will be their legacy.

PATRICK CAMPBELL

Campello,

Spain