ONE realises Robin King is only the lead in Jacqui Smith's pencil. But he cannot be allowed to make such outrageous statements.

Firstly, the one in his letter "Cancelled operations" (Advertiser, February 14). I quote ".....merely an attempt to make political gain from a short-term blip ....."

So to Mr King and the Labour Party he claims to represent, anyone who complains about having their operation cancelled is out to make a political statement. Never mind the problems cancelled operations cause the patient.

I seem to remember the political capital Jacqui Smith made during the last election out of the promises about reducing hospital waiting times. Promises that have not been kept.

Perhaps Mr King will consider the following as a political statement.

How is it that since the Alexandra was named my hospital, appointments have:

a) Been put pack in two-monthly steps from last September to this month.

b) A six-monthly consultation has been changed to a yearly consultation.

c) Another consultation is put back by a month or a week.

In fact, I was receiving more care when Mrs Thatcher was said to be destroying the NHS.

Secondly, the letter "School Funding, Tory Policy is to Blame" (February 28). Has it escaped Mr King's notice there has been a Labour Government in power for the last four years? In fact, our MP is a minister in the Government. So there is no reason why the Government could not have changed the funding policy at any time it wanted to.

Perhaps the Labour Government believes the Conservative policy was the best. Even though the schools in Redditch are run on a shoestring.

I am also a school governor who fought the Conservative Government over school funding. I see no reason to stop attacking the Government now it is a Labour Government that believes it is a Conservative Government.

WE Weston

Binton Close

Matchborough