Sir - So, our local political elites have got themselves worked up over UKIP politicising football (WN 24th October).

They would have us believe it is their principle to keep politics out of sport. I wonder, how they propose to do that?

Perhaps they will demand the removal of all the anti-'Racism' banners at football grounds then? I thought not. Yet such a campaign is political, is it not?

Indeed, politics and sport have always been intertwined. When Manchester United was formed, it was formed by Catholic Mancunians unhappy that Manchester City refused to allow Catholics to play for the club.

When Celtic fans wave the Irish flag, and Rangers fans the Union flag; when Rangers FC recently hosted, yet again, 'Armed Forces Day', complete with marching soldiers, pipe bands and a football game against the British Army - are these not political statements?

The sporting boycotts of Apartheid South Africa - were they not political acts?

When some British venues refused to allow Zola Budd to run purely because she was a White South African - was that not also a political act?

Of course they are all political. Indeed, when it suits their interests our elitist politicians will intervene in sport. Yet, schizophrenic hypocrites that they are, they try to keep politics out of sport when it doesn't suit them. It is clearly a case of do as I say, don't do as I do. Well, town hall commissars, sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander also.

Rob Menzies

UKIP Worcester