SIR - Margaret Thatcher called them Moaning Minnies and Malcolm Wood's catalogue of woe is hard to beat (T&A, December 28).

He cannot differentiate between allegations (Tony Blair took bribes; the Duke of Edinburgh ordered Diana's murder) and evidence, of which, to date, there is none.

Nor is he right to claim the government was embarrassed by the Saudi arms deal U turn'. The decision was taken in the national interest.

Unemployment benefit claims remain below one million whereas under Thatcher they were above three million. Schools are not failing and closure of hospitals, post offices and police stations reflect changes in technology and actual rather than imagined needs.

Afghanistan was a lawless wasteland for decades and will take many years to turn round.

The death of Sgt Roberts was a tragic accident and there were valid alternative reasons why, but out of respect for him and his family (unlike those using the incident for political advantage) they are not rehearsed in public.

So, without credible examples, Mr Woods is left with nothing but spin' and baseless allegations to attack a record of achievement which even the moaniest of Minnies would be hard put to deny.

Brian Holmans, Langley Road, Bingley