THE son of Ruth Kelly has been diagnosed as suffering from learning difficulties. He will therefore be unable to make normal progress in reading and writing.

Such a child needs individual help, preferably on a one-to-one basis. With the best state education system in the world, this is not possible.

If Ms Kelly has the means to provide this privately, she would be failing in her duty as a caring mother not to do the best she can for her child.

One of her critics has been Mrs Williams, her future Conservative opponent in Bolton West.

We already know that one of her children attends a private school. It would be interesting to know whether her other two children also attend a private school, or if she intends to send them to a private school in the future.

I would also be interested to hear from her why she rejects the state system, and how she would improve matters in the future.

John Davidson Ringley Road West Radcliffe