I WAS reading Luke Collinge's letter (LET, December 23) with interest up until he mentioned voting for the Liberal Democrats.

Mr Collinge, if you honestly believe that had Charles Kennedy been the PM, Britain would not have aided our closest ally the US in Iraq then I'm sorry, you're living in Liberal cuckoo land.

As a disillusioned Labour voter myself I would still not vote for the Lib Dems if they were the only party in Britain and I would urge people thinking of voting this far-left party to read their manifesto in its entirety.

I have, and in my opinion they are a hopelessly weak party that are shockingly weak on crime and are more if possible pro the EU constitution than Blair.

So, Mr Collinge, if you want to sit round a camp fire reading your Guardian newspaper and singing Kum-Bah-Yah whilst your home is being burgled then go ahead vote Lib Dem.

Fortunately the vast majority of British people have more sense.

CAROL LONGWORTH (Mrs), Ermine Close, Blackburn.