FOLLOWING Anne Widdecombe's recent adverse comments about gay families, I am at loss for words as to what all the fuss is about and why people are even surprised.

Conservative Shadow Cabinet member Miss Widdecombe often comes out with such drivel.

Indeed, as long ago as June 7 1998, speaking on BBC Radio 4, she stated both "gay and lone parent households are inferior to traditional families" and went on to add that such lifestyles do not have "equal validity."

Of course, being a Miss and having never been married herself, she is obviously an expert on family life!

Before her present post she was a shadow Health Secretary.

Within a short time of her taking up that position, she threatened to resign if the Conservatives were re-elected to Government.

Why? Because in that post she would be required to approve expenditure on abortions.

Leaving aside the rights and wrongs of abortion, one must ask why she even took the job in the first place if she felt so strongly. Now Miss Widdecombe has upset her own shadow cabinet by taking a strong line on cannabis usage.

At least eight members of her party to date have admitted using the drug and one even admitted to enjoying it!

Surely this can only be a sign that the Conservatives didn't even discuss her proposals before trumpeting them at their party conference.

Since becoming Conservative leader, Mr Hague has often said that the Conservatives were now the listening party.

This is clearly false as they do not even listen to their own shadow cabinet, yet alone the British people.

John Finlay,

Faringdon Avenue, Blackpool.