THE Tories say the news that 1,000 British soldiers are to be home for Christmas is spin.

Well, if that is spin, let's have a lot more of it.

If the Tories had voted with the Labour rebels there would have been no war with Iraq.

It seems to me the Tories are so desperate for votes they are giving away everything but the crown jewels.

Gordon Brown would do well to make the Tories stew for another two years.

More and more contributors say they are impressed by Mr Brown's performance so far - extremely galling for the Tories.

We are living in troubled times and global events now play a greater part in the politics of many nations, including our own, but Mr Brown is a safe pair of hands and he is enjoying more and more the trust of the electorate.

Hysterical profligacy seems to be a desperate ploy by the Tories to gain votes - I doubt if the British people will fall for it.

Hugh Pender, Darlington.