ON balance Tony Blair was right to opt for a June General Election. If Labour wins convincingly the change of plan will soon be forgotten. If they don't it will never be forgotten.

I find General Elections exciting; and will be up all night in June to catch the climax of this one. But the long campaign, fuelled by the Tories, will inevitably lead to much repetition.

The Boy Blair is under great pressure from foot and mouth. But only William Hague thinks the Tory leader could handle it better. Who would be a politician, a farmer or an animal at a time like this? Is Mother Nature trying to tell us something about meat eating? Voting has never been easier than it will be in June.

Max Nottingham,

St Faith's Street, Lincoln.

...HOW delighted I was that Tony and Cherie Blair enjoyed their visit to York last Friday. I recall Blair and Prescott's last visit to view the floods and their promises of help. Is this why we have all received greatly-increased council tax bills? Do they really think people are going to flock to the countryside on a very cold wet April day?

June Smith,

Moor Lane,

Strensall, York.

Updated: 10:53 Tuesday, April 10, 2001