Dear Editor, I see on the 40th anniversary year of Enoch Powell's speech, his ghost lives on.

I purposely didn't watch the Channel 4 TV documentary on Saturday evening about Powell or listen to the BBC Radio 4 documentary either, on the same day.

Coming from Wolverhampton and his constituency I have my own views and memories - that's that. But I do know for a fact that he was a giant amongst his peers when it came to politics, being a good constituency MP and an expert on world affairs generally.

Enoch lived next door to Barbara Whitehouse on the Merridale Road in Wolverhampton and I still pass the two houses on my way to see relatives. I would have thought Enoch and Barbara would have made excellent neighbours actually. It was at this house that he received the letter from Ted Heath sacking him from the front bench.

Enoch also visited his constituents on a regular basis and relatives of mine remember it vividly to this day. They often had interesting chats with him on the doorstep.

Whatever one thinks of Enoch, it is true to say that his life and career, and also those he befriended and served during his period in office, are a lot more interesting than the present political news coming out of Westminster. Let's face it, the present ruling elite are enough to send one to sleep without a mug of Horlicks.

After doing my popular library exhibition about Sir Anthony Eden in Warwick in 2005, I am totally convinced now that Gordon Brown will easily beat Eden in the stakes for the worst PM ever to hold power on British soil. In fact, Sir Anthony Eden will look brilliant in comparison and still be able to hold his head high.

At the end of the day it is all about Giants v Pygmies and it seems, 40 years after Enoch's famous speech, we can still look back on MPs of his generation as great men and women. I just cannot see the same happening when we look back at the Blair and Brown years, except for one exception - Mo Mowlam perhaps.

IAN PAYNE, Walsall

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* Flair for leadership

Dear Editor, Reading the article on the runners and riders for the position of AWM chair, we were disappointed by the total lack of environmental and sustainability criteria and credentials given for all of the candidates (Six in the frame for top AWM job, Post February 26). The whole list has a familiar 'business as usual' feel to it.

This is even more surprising given the emerging drivers within the new West Midlands Economic Strategy of a lower carbon economy and environmental technologies.

The West Midlands was a key player in the first industrial revolution. While that revolution brought us problems and pollutions which still affect the region, at the same time Birmingham was regarded as the best-governed city on the planet.

That is the sort of leadership we need to see now as ever-higher oil prices, unprecedented depletions of biodiversity and other resources, an increasing global population and the need to address climate change all propel us into a new and different industrial revolution.

The next Chair of AWM will need to show this leadership if the region is to succeed in addressing these challenges.

We hope the selection panel will show much greater understanding of these issues in the interview process than that shown in the article.

CHRIS CREAN, On behalf of the West Midlands Regional Sustainability Forum

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Second class service for first class stamp

Dear Editor, Please expose the mean Post Office for holding back by Mother's Day card all for the sake of a measly 6p.

My son, who lives away, had put a first class stamp on a card measuring 8x8 ins, but that was not good enough for the Post Office, which clearly must have known it was a Mother's Day card and would cause disappointment if not delivered.

My son doesn't drive, lives some distance from a Post Office and doesn't happen to have odd 6p stamps. Of course, to make money, the Post Office would like people to double up on stamps to cover the cost, but students and low-paid people can't afford to subsidise the company.

I wonder how much it has made from mothers anxious to have their belated cards at the cost of £1 (and having to travel and wait in a queue at the depot)?

Also, what if they are not collected? I thought it was a crime to destroy the Queen's mail.

I advise people to text their greetings in the future.

Thanks Post Office, I'm really proud to be British.

SYLVIA ELLIS, Sutton Coldfield

* Tantamount to treason

Dear Editor, Yet again, the wishes of the nation have received the V sign from New Labour: this time over a referendum on the European Union. When returned to power in 2005, they had categorically promised the people a referendum on our membership, and when Gordon Brown assumed the mantle of Prime Minister, he stated that his Government would "listen to the people". He has failed on both counts.

He continually maintains that the new Lisbon Treaty is different from the old constitution, thus a referendum is not necessary - and he denies us our rights to have one. How is it that his own European scrutiny committee has stated that the treaty and the constitution are the same?

With their unethical stance, this rotten Government has ended the right of over 27 million people to have a vote on their future and way of life. Further, anyone now under the age of 57 years has never voted on our position in Europe, nor will they be able to do so. Such a situation is more attributable to a third world banana republic.

In the House of Commons on Wednesday March 5, our Prime Minister stated three times that the nation had already voted by referendum on the EU and had said 'yes' in 1975. This is wrong and Brown is being economical with the truth.

The vote then was for us to join a free trade agreement with the then Common Market, and nothing else. We did not vote to take Britain into this monolithic monstrosity and political entity which is smothering us and erasing our identity, our culture and our sovereignty.

In my opinion, Brown's attitude is tantamount to treason against the nation state. He should be brought to account.

MICK COLE, Kenilworth

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* Nothing to hide, nothing to fear

Dear Editor, I am always surprised by the strength of the public's opposition to the introduction of identity cards and DNA tests for everyone.

Both facilities would surely help the police enormously in their struggles against crime.

After all, if you have done nothing wrong, what have you to fear?

HAROLD NASH, Wythall

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Memories of Ronnie Morgan

Dear Editor, My father played Golf At Moseley Golf Club with Ronnie Morgan (Game was up for POW in more ways than one, March 8).

Ronnie was an enginneer by birth and, whilst a prisoner, he made a radio to listen in to UK broadcasts. He also managed to manufacture various other things the prisoners required.

NICK DEELEY, City centre