COULD somebody please explain why Gordon Brown has just unveiled a statue of Nelson Mandela in Parliament Square in London?

Mr Mandela may be a great man to other people, but I am appalled that our taxes have been spent on a statue of a man who has no connection with Great Britain.

I wonder who will be next on the statue list of the Labour Party?

Probably Fidel Castro.

Only British figures should be immortalised in a brass or marble mould on our pavements.

Christopher Wardell, Darlington.

HOW shocking that convicted terrorist Nelson Mandela has now been commemorated via a new statue in Parliament square. What must the relatives of the innocent casualties of the South African Church Street bombings be thinking of Great Britain?

One can only wonder which villains will be remembered in the future when new statues are erected: Gerry Adams? Martin McGuinness?

Surely it is the likes of peace activist Desmond Tutu from South Africa that should have been highlighted.

It appears that killing has been rewarded on this occasion, and the saying "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter"

thoroughly applies. This coldblooded murderer should have paid the ultimate price for his vile terrorist crimes.

As a nation we owe it to the innocent victims to ensure this eyesore of a statue is removed as soon as is possible and work for peace with those people we will certainly have offended.

Mark Anderson, Middleton St George.