TONY BLAIR: IT seems rather strange that Tony Blair complains the BBC is putting doubts on his integrity when over 70 per cent of people polled recently think exactly that.

Mr Blair and his regime are trusted much less than previous Conservative administrations, where perhaps individual members fell far short of the standard that most people require.

Mr Blair has been found wanting in so many of his activities that it beggars belief that he still expects us lesser mortals to give him undiminished support.

At least now it seems we are going to have the honour of working till we are 70 whether we like it or not and that is down to bad management of the nation's finances, without any doubt.

Could some of the staunch Labour supporters among your correspondents kindly give us a rundown of what New Labour has achieved in the past seven years or so? I am pretty sure quite a large number of those who supported New Labour in the first flush of their election success are now having second thoughts about their political views in the future.

I wish Alan Milburn would leave this lot and keep the personal support he has always enjoyed in this constituency. - Peter Johnson, Darlington.

SMOKING

HAVING read about all the complaints from the public about cigarette smoking I have never once heard about the fallout from bus, lorry and car exhausts, which is ten times more lethal.

I do not own a car, but I have to put up with the consequences of being slowly poisoned with fumes from all these vehicles that constantly use our roads and motorways.

I was on a school crossing for quite a lot of years and the fallout from cars, buses and lorries was appalling.

In fact, I often wondered how a young child in a pushchair put up with it being just the same height as an exhaust.

So let us sort out all vehicle owners and have a total ban on fumes emitted from exhausts. - NM Peart, West Auckland.

SMOKING will never be completely banned as long as the Government makes money from the tax on tobacco. The hypocrites cannot afford to ban it. - Ken Orton, Ferryhill Station.

EUROPE

EU Constitutional Convention president Giscard D'Estaing has admitted that the removal of the word federal from the draft constitution was nothing more than a ruse to shield the British government from criticism, adding that 'communitaire', the word he replaced it with, meant exactly the same thing.

And Tony Blair heralded it as a great victory that the 'f' word had been removed. Peter Hain, with contemptuous arrogance, dismissed the European Constitution as nothing more than a tidying up exercise.

Well, we are now reaching the end-game in the creation of a full political union and still there has not been a full and open public debate as to the real implications.

We will not allow this Constitution to be signed without the debate and without a referendum.

Just remember, what our politicians are preparing to sign away does not belong to them, and they must not be allowed to do it without our consent. - Neil Herron, Sunderland.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

IT seems that every few days, the police find some poor kid stabbed or strangled to death. And so it has been since hanging's abolition, which was a mistake.

No one should be surprised by schoolgirl Jodi Jones's brutal murder. There is something rotten in the state of Britain. And under Tony Blair it can only spiral out of control.

Four words to deal with such evil acts: bring back the noose.

The death penalty may not be a deterrent, but there are some offences so hideous that it is the only correct sentence. Let the punishment fit the crime.

Perhaps it is time for a national referendum on the hanging issue. - Aled Jones, Bridlington.

CHARITY APPEAL

THERE can be few families in Richmondshire who at some time have not been or will be involved closely with either the Friarage Hospital at Northallerton, the Friary Hospital at Richmond and the Memorial Hospital at Darlington.

I have therefore chosen the group of Friends of each of these hospitals to share my chairman's charity this civic year, as Chairman of the Richmondshire District Council.

Besides any functions which I am able to organise, I wonder if you would like to organise an activity independently, in aid of this particularly local charity from which all our citizens might well benefit at some time.

It would be helpful to let us know what you are planning and any proceeds or other donations would be most gratefully received at the address below. I will be delighted to acknowledge personally such contributions. - Chairman's Secretary, Swale House, Frenchgate, Richmond DL10 4BR by the end of April next year. - Michael Heseltine, Chairman, Richmondshire District Council.

LOTTERY DRAW

I CANNOT understand why there are so many changes in the Lottery draw on a Saturday. It must cost a fortune on machines.

If they want a change, why not have the last seven out of the drum as the winning numbers? That will spend a little more time. Better than rushing through them the way they do.

I think this way would have the viewer on the edge of their seats. - WH Cameron, Brandon.