FOR the last few months, Tory leader William Hague has scored a few telling blows against the Labour Party, on law and order, crime and punishment, etc., but now that Tony Blair has started to have a really good night's sleep, even 'Leo' can't spoil it.

And it's all because of the truly terrible blunder from a mystery adviser to Mr Hague.

Just ask any child: "Would you like to have a rise in your weekly spending money so we won't need to buy you a Christmas present?"

Well, I'm 85 and a lot of pensioners like me look forward to perks.

You will hear old people saying such things as: "Next year, I will get a free TV licence," or "I'll soon qualify for winter fuel payments."

Most look forward to their Christmas bonus and I would do more so if it was boosted a bit.

What can William Hague do now?

Not many, if any, politicians get called honest, so he should admit it and say: "I'm very sorry -- I didn't give this enough thought. Hopefully, in future, I will try to look through eyes more mature than mine.

LEN RUSHTON, St Michael's Court, Blackburn.