"IT is time to start getting seriously angry". These words from your editorial (May 19), about the ever-worsening crisis in the health service, will touch many hearts.

But, in the long-term, we shall never get out of this mess until we and our representatives in Parliament take on board two dreadful considerations.

The first is that Blair's "Labour" party now belies its name. One does not have to be a committed Labour supporter to recall that the agenda traditionally was about peace, social justice, and care for the individual in all walks of life.

Quite apart from the war issue, that does not mix with a virtually bankrupt NHS, the closing of old people's homes, and post offices, and many other traditional amenities. Steadily, bit-by-bit, the old welfare state has had rubbish poured over it. Even the power of Parliament itself has been called into question.

Secondly, Blair's party is now a war party. Totally under President Bush's thumb (future historians, if there are any, will wonder why), we are committed to seemingly unending Middle East war.

It started with an illegal invasion, and may end in a nuclear conflict. This is where the money, or much of it, is going, instead of into the hospitals.

The blunt truth is that this administration, in spite of throwing a lollipop or two at us to keep us quiet, is less interested in care for the individual at home than in guns, bullets and missiles abroad.

And that is in countries where many of us haven't the least idea why the hell we are there.

The arms people, who need constant wars, are having a field day. I often sit with my head in my hands, feeling hopeless.

Unless the sheep-like Labour Party, so-called, rouses itself and says, loudly, "It is time to start getting seriously angry".

Roy Stevens,

Willow Bank,

New Earswick, York.

Updated: 09:31 Thursday, May 25, 2006