SIR - As a pragmatic socialist who votes Tory because they have the best candidate, I am disturbed that Peter Ashton’s prime incentive is apparently to disparage his political opponents as the “privileged and greedy few” (Letters, February 26).

He should be aware that the Conservative party do not have a monopoly of self interest and I am sure that he recognises the parody of his political anthem which ends “I’ve got the foreman’s job at last”.

John Pashley, Westcliffe Avenue, Baildon