READING (LT, August 8) the comments made by two of our elected councillors Mulla and Khonat and the unelected Lord Patel, Tony Blair is now the villain of peace and Jack Straw can do no wrong.

Despite the fact that for many years in opposition and power Jack Straw was the close confidant of Tony Blair, some say his bag carrier, but was as committed to the warmongering policies of New Labour as Blair was, or so it appeared.

He was, after all, Foreign Secretary during the worst foreign policy decisions in the history of the Labour Party and there is the blood of British troops on his hands just the same as Blairs.

Councillor Khonat is quoted as saying: "He will do everything he can for everybody." Not so.

When he backed the return to the Labour Group of six councillors, including Councillor Mulla who formed their own independent group, it was at odds with his previous stance of backing the expulsion from the Labour Party of six members who were expelled for allegedly forming a political group.

Coun Mulla says he has a "fantastic MP" because he attracted millions of pounds to deprived areas.

In 27 years as our Parliamentary representative I would hope he has but how does that compare with his predecessor Barbara Castle?

Mrs Castle not only attracted significant investment into the area, but pushed through legislation which benefited millions of people across the UK, not least of all many thousands of textile workers who suffered and still suffer from the industrial disease Bysinossis and industrial deafness.

It has taken over 20 years for New Labour, Blair, Brown, Straw and Tory leader Cameron to admit that Barbara Castle was right and that means testing pensions is not the answer, but linking pension increases to wages is the most effective way to a fair and equitable pension policy.

Rather than sycophantic praising of our MP, how about lobbying to get the new pension policy implemented?

DON RISHTON, Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn.