SIR: After seeing Portillo on television and reading his assumption that any young Englishman (British) would be willing to die in battle for England and the monarchy, I say what a load of rubbish.

Let him interview the young homeless, jobless and people persecuted by the corrupt government of today.

The 'scratch my back attitude' all-one clique had led to almost complete suppression of the working class.

I have served in different theatres of war 1940-45. Never once did Queen and country enter my head. My sole thought was to get home to my wife and daughter. Ask any survivor what his thought was on this.

All those killed happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. After the chaos, this Tory Government has caused in 16 years, if the dead could speak they would say 'we died in vain'.

We have gone back in time with greed and corruptionbeing our only "successes".

A Stephan, Clough Street, Kearsley

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.