Letter: John Smith: a man who will be sorely missed

Sir: Since the early days of Mrs Thatcher's prime ministership, I've voted Tory. On Thursday John Smith, albeit posthumously, converted me to Labour.

How could his party have left it so long to communicate the character and integrity of such a fine man to the people of his country?

It was only after listening to the tributes that I concluded that if a man of such courage and decency could dedicate himself to the Labour cause, then there cannot be much wrong with it.

Yours faithfully,

JOE McNALLY

Kidderminster, Worcestershire

13 May