Sir, I suspect that Clare Short (letters, March 11) has taken too seriously Simon Jenkins’s comment that she is “one powerful lady” (Comment, March 5).

It is not the first time she has rushed to demean the leadership of the Labour Party with scant regard for her ministerial responsibilities or her colleagues. Her latest threat to resign over Iraq is not merely self-indulgent but a cynical gesture of personal bargaining to change a major policy of the Prime Minister and her Cabinet colleagues.

As a former MP for over ten years I am somewhat at a loss to understand why Labour’s heavyweights in the Cabinet, John Prescott and Charles Clarke, did not deal with the issue of Clare Short’s “conscience”, insisting on collective responsibility or resignation. After all, this is not Tony’s war. But first things first: Short out.

Yours faithfully,
ERIC MOONMAN,
1 Beacon Hill, N7 9LY.
March 11.

From Mr Murray Cohen

Sir, I am not happy with the domestic policies of the Labour Party. However, I am impressed with Tony Blair’s efforts to avoid war in Iraq. To that end he has been slogging his guts out so that all our military men and women return home safely.

For Clare Short to undermine the PM’s effort now shows the highest degree of disloyalty.

Yours faithfully,
MURRAY COHEN,
5 Vivian Way, N2 0AB.
March 10.

From Mr John Drew

Sir, Why a headline for Ms Short’s declaration of principle that she would have to resign if Britain attacked Iraq without UN backing?

How many days ago is it since the country was given to understand that it was HMG’s position that any British action needed the sanction of the UN? And that the demonstration of Mr Blair’s influence over US policy was that he had persuaded Mr Bush to go the same UN route?

Or is it that for Mr Blair, as for Mr Bush, the UN is just one more fig leaf to be discarded if it fails to cover his nakedness?

Yours faithfully,
JOHN DREW,
10 Fulbrooke Road,
Cambridge CB3 9EE.
March 10.

From Mr Magnus Mathewson

Sir, Clare Short must know that the United Nations is a forum where nation states horse-trade. It has consistently acted in a manner that pre-empts any useful action from being taken.

The French, long-term trading partners of Saddam and proprietors of large oil contracts with Baghdad, have somehow managed to convince half of Europe that supporting dictators like Saddam and Mugabe is a brave stand for freedom and peace. It is, in fact, a cynical way of protecting French economic and electoral interests while trying to reduce US influence.

European anti-Americanism is based, inter alia, on intellectual conformity. The world is entering a dangerous phase, and I for one am glad that men with the courage of Bush and Blair are prepared to act while the moral cowardice of the likes of Chirac continues to endanger the world.

Yours faithfully,
MAGNUS MATHEWSON,
95 Mildmay Road, N1 4PU.
March 11.

From Mr Peter Kosmider

Sir, I never thought the day would come when I would agree, simultaneously, with old Labour and the French President.

I must be getting old.

Regards,
PETER KOSMIDER,
91 Stag Lane,
Edgware, Middlesex HA8 5LJ.
March 11.

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