I WOULD like to respond to George Buckham's letter in the Stourbridge News on 24th of April.

Mr Buckham, it seems, is critical of my literary style of a letter of mine that was published in the News on the 27th of March. The letter in question was about the 'Lynda Waltho supplement' and my concern about its funding.

It also appears that Mr Buckham seems to think that I'm trying to make political capital of the subject. Let me say straight away that I'm apolitical and that I would criticise any MP whatever their hue for such blatant misuse of public money. The only thing that motivated me to write my letter, is the constantly abusive waste of taxpayer's money.

Mr Buckham is correct however, I did not read to the bottom of the page, in fact I didn't read any of it. I recognised it for what it was: A grandiose piece of self promoting propaganda.

Incidentally, Mr Buckham, in his letter, states that the source of the funding can be found in bold capital letters on the back page. While in another letter on the same subject on the same page AP Cuff states that in was in small print. As I say I can't comment I didn't read it.

I'm afraid Mr Buckham is missing my point. My question on who funds this 'information' was purely rhetorical, I was already aware that all our honourable members of parliament are paid a substantial propaganda allowance on top of all the other benefits they receive.

However my main motive for my letter was to draw people's attention to this abuse of the public purse and from the response of the letters page over the last two weeks I think quite a few people have noticed.

A lot of readers, like me, can't be bothered or are too apathetic to read what our politicians want us to hear but unlike me aren't really aware of who is paying for it.

Well Mr Buckham those that weren't but who do read the letters page are now. Thanks to your letter Mr Buckham we all now know, especially as you have put in bold type, who pays for it.

WE PAY OUR MPs TO TELL US WHAT A GRAND JOB THEY ARE DOING ON OUR BEHALF.

Mr Buckham also suggests that I should log onto the Hansard section of the parliamentary website. Why should I? Mrs Waltho is the one that has chosen to spin answers to contrived questions through the medium of the press.

Let her answer ours in the press. For instance: What has she got to say to the people who elected her, having been denied a referendum on the European Treaty? How does she feel about this country's continuing presence in Iraq and Afghanistan? Does she think that the present level of immigration is sustainable? Can she tell us where the three million new houses that Mr Brown has promised us are to be built?

There is one thing, however, that Mr Buckham and I agree on. That is that ALL propaganda paid for by the taxpayer whether it is used by a Labour MP or Tory council is an immoral waste,.

W Woodhouse

by e-mail