THE Westcountry can always rely on the thoughts of Tory Patrick Nicholls to make sense of how a Conservative shadow minister was arrested by the Metropolitan Police without a reason ("Mugabe would have approved", December 4).

Police inquiries must continue without the bluster and bullying illustrated by David Cameron in the Queen's Speech debate in the Commons on December 3.

I cannot remember Mr Cameron (or Mr Nicholls) expressing any concern when Lord Levy was arrested by police. Apprehending a Labour parliamentarian is fair game; arresting a Tory is against all notions of fair play.

The saga of Damian Green's arrest is being used by Cameron and the Tories as a smokescreen to direct public attention from the fact that the Conservatives have no policies to tackle the economic downturn. While the Government is introducing a fiscal stimulus to help families and businesses, the Tories are sitting on their hands and letting the downturn take its course.

The voters will remember the last two Tory recessions, when unemployment soared, interest rates went sky high and public services were cut to the bone. They had no policies then to fight the economic downturn, and they have none now.

While Gordon Brown acts to help the British people by making banks lend to small businesses and households, raising child allowances and pensions, and investing billions in getting people back to work, the Tories indulge in party politics instead of supporting the Government at these dangerous times.

Their politics at this time of economic uncertainty are unbecoming of a party that wants to become the government.

Mr Cameron's tactics are sixth-form politics, and show he has not the experience or acumen to be a national leader. This episode of Damian Green making errors of judgment and placing the employment of a civil servant at risk is typical of Cameron's leadership – he is a novice in politics and a novice in leadership.

Dr David Pedrick-Friend

Paignton

Robust hunting Act

IT is a great shame that in a modern society we require legislation to protect our wildlife from those who still enjoy the primitive act of chasing and killing an animal for sport. But sadly we do – which is why the Hunting Act came into being.

Despite reports to the contrary, the legislation has proved itself to be robust – there have been 29 successful prosecutions since its inception, and more cases are pending.

Furthermore, a new website – www.huntingact.org – is now to act as a portal providing information and expertise to ensure the Hunting Act is upheld and enforced and those who inflict cruelty on animals by hunting illegally brought to justice.

Hunting is deplored by the vast majority of the public. In fact, 75 per cent of people in the UK support the ban, according to the latest polling figures (Ipsos-MORI, September 2008). This new website will act as an invaluable tool to complement the work of the police and prosecutors in sending a clear message that illegal hunting is simply not acceptable.

Douglas Batchelor

Chief Executive League Against Cruel Sports

Lib-Dem shambles

LIB-DEM MP Julia Goldsworthy complains about a government announcement that local councils will be given new powers to levy a supplemental business rate – the same Julia Goldsworthy who regularly complains that government should give local councils more power.

It is time she and her party made up their minds what they want. Given the record of Cornwall County Council, many people are as worried about its future decisions as they are dismayed about recent calamities.

If Cornwall's MPs want the Government to help them out by reining in the Lib-Dem council in Cornwall, they should say so.

Otherwise, this levy is a decision that will be in the hands of local authorities – they don't have to do it.

Given the reckless waste of taxpayers' money at County Hall, the shambolic Lib-Dems may decide they have to use this supplemental rate to balance the books.

No doubt Julia will direct her complaints to government again while her party colleagues limp from one crisis to the next without a word of censure.

Jude Robinson

Labour Parliamentary Candidate Camborne, Redruth & Hayle

No role for nuclear

THERE is much to welcome in a new report from the Committee on Climate Change on how to cut emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. But it is wrong to suggest nuclear power has a role to play.

When environmental and hidden costs are factored in, nuclear is one of the most expensive ways of generating electricity. There are more than enough alternatives that are cheaper, quicker to build and altogether more attractive (see www.mng.org.uk/gh/energy.htm)

Several reports show it is possible to decarbonise the economy without nuclear power (see www.mng.org.uk/gh/scenarios. htm)

Dr Gerry Wolff

Menai Bridge, Anglesey

Kenyan President

THE hair-splitters keep pointing out that Barack Obama was born in Kenya and therefore not eligible to be President. Should the UK media say something?

Pat Rattigan

Chesterfield