Letter: Labour's challenge: to win power and keep faith with the poor

Blair's moralism

Sir: Polly Toynbee in her analysis of Tony Blair (23 April) suggests that his moralism is "deep-dyed Victorian". What is Victorian about believing in a welfare state, as he clearly does, but none the less coupled with a belief in personal responsibility? The vast majority of this country still believe in both. Polly Toynbee's article concludes that Tony Blair speaks not only to the electors but to God. Perhaps her analysis is flawed by her failure to take advantage of that second line of communication.

Michael Foster

St Leonard's-on-Sea,

East Sussex

The writer is prospective Labour parliamentary candidate for Hastings and Rye