SIR - In response to Brian Holmans letter (March 17) regarding Tony Blair.

Yes, there are mixed points to consider, being leader of a party that is a very ‘broad church’ he had to put forward the agendas of his party, as well as the country which had endured 18 long hard years under the Tories and desperately needed and expected change.

On issues such as tax credits, partial restoration of trade union rights, minimum wage and Northern Ireland generally, these were achievements.

Giving the minimum wage as an example, I believe this to be an achievement of the party in general, especially the unions and old Labour backbenchers, as with most of these achievements.

On the negative view, unfortunately Blair’s involvements with Bush, including Iraq, has destabilised this whole region and we’re living in a much more unstable world as a result, as well as student loans/tuition fees which make students debt-ridden from the beginning of their working lives, reversing Harold Wilson’s great achievement.

And bank de-regulation was never reversed, which led to the crash and which most of us are paying for now and for a long time ahead.

George Hitchcock, Southlands, Baildon