Letter: Read his lips: no fair taxes

Sir: Polly Toynbee ("Why I trust Jack Straw to do the right thing", 20 January) tells us we need not fear Jack Straw's illiberal statements because he doesn't mean a word of them. "Trust him - he's a liar." It's a novel idea. An alternative suggests itself: why shouldn't I trust the fellows whose stance, being well to the left of new Labour, is now closer to my own? Blairites assume the left need not be placated because it has nowhere to go. I am a lifelong Labour voter and the likes of Straw, Harman and, above all, Blair have ensured that my impending choice is between voting Liberal Democrat and abstaining.

SHEENAGH PUGH

Cardiff