TONY BLAIR: I FIND myself in a rather puzzled state and am wondering if your readers could help.

First let me state that I am against the killing of any animals. Chasing after a fox for hours on end and then ending its life painfully is cruel and should stop. Yet sitting on a river bank for hours on end trying to stick a long, sharp hook into a fish's mouth is not deemed cruel? Funny that.

Now the most puzzling. Tony Blair states the death penalty - the taking of life - is wrong and indeed said so in America on behalf of two British men held in Cuba (why not the rest of the prisoners?). Yet when news of the death of Saddam's two sons and grandson was given to him, he was in rapture saying this was great news.

Am I missing some important fact here? Please will someone clear the air for me? - P Brown, Trimdon Village.

SMALL wonder Tony Blair's popularity is crumbling and plunging to an all-time low.

With all the problems here in the UK that urgently demand his attention, he and Cherie are living off the hog, being feted and entertained like royalty all around the world.

Mr Blair's goal of becoming of becoming President of a European superstate is well known and recognised as a main focus of his antics. Now he appears to be courting adoration and worship from as many countries as he can set his foot in, all under the guise of boosting trade for Britain of course.

Strange that the results are usually more jobs in Britain being lost as work is transferred overseas.

Our Prime Minister's thoughts and actions are too dominated by his "place in history". Come home, Mr Blair, and see to matters here.

The country you were elected to serve is groaning and facing serious problems in many areas, not least the credibility of the government you lead.

Remove the plank from your own domestic eye before you make a grand show of trying to remove the specks of dust from the eyes of other countries. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

MODERN BRITAIN

Why do people downgrade this country? Of course we are a small island on the edge of two huge continents, but this country created the largest empire that the world has ever seen, covering about 25 per cent of the world's surface.

It was the two world wars that diminished the power of the great empire, but the British were not driven out as is the case in most empires, but were welcomed as they brought peace and modernisation.

Control was handed back to the people of each country and the peace which prevailed when Britain ruled in many cases was shattered for decades.

If we were bad rulers there would not now be a Commonwealth of Nations with over 40 independent countries who voluntarily joined the organisation.

As the British Empire declined what happened was that another English speaking country became the most powerful (the United States of America) and two of the five continents of the world (America and Australia) are descended from the population of this island.

Many previous empire countries with different tribes and languages still use English as their official language and, since there are so many countries throughout the world, it is hardly surprising that that most people who learn a foreign or second language choose English and that there are more people in China who speak English than in the population of America. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

REGIONAL GOVERNMENT

LORD Rooker, on behalf of the Government, on Regional Assemblies, stated that there would not be time for a draft bill on the powers and functions of the assemblies to go through the proper Parliamentary scrutiny process.

This would not be possible if the referenda were planned for next autumn. This is staggering beyond belief.

And even more staggering is that it wasn't reported anywhere.

The Government is expecting the people of the North-East, North West and Yorkshire to buy a product in a plain brown box without questions.

Well, Tony, the people of the North do not deserve to be treated with such arrogance and contempt.

The referendum may well be pay-back time. - Neil Herron, The No Campaign, Sunderland.

Saltburn IN BLOOM

I READ with interest your report (Echo, Jul 29) about Saltburn in Bloom, saying that people are rallying with help to replace the damaged flowers.

There was no mention of Redcar and Cleveland Council giving any help. This council benefits from tourists visiting the town just to see the flower displays.

We have for years paid council tax in the top highest list. It is a pity that the council cannot help their own town in their moment of devastation. - Jackie Taylor has earned her MBE twice over. - Mary Myers, Saltburn.