Blair has an unhealthy infatuation with the rich and famous

Letters (Glasgow Herald)

JIM Sheridan, MP, either had too much at the bells, is naive or he thinks the people are if he expects us to swallow his line about Tony Blair and Joe Public being at one when staying at friends' homes (Letters, January 1). TB's freebie holidays cannot be divorced from politics; he is the Prime Minister after all.The concern many have is that this sleaze-ridden New Labour government, and Blair in particular, seem infatuated with the rich and famous. People have a legitimate concern about the influence the super-rich seem to have over him as he craves their company. Maybe Blair's policies have created the ever-widening gap between rich and poor that attracts them to each other. But, hey, that's getting political. Sorry about that, Jim.

Thomas Morrison, 105 Alderman Road, Glasgow.

JIM Sheridan, MP, attempts to defend Tony Blair's free holiday by saying, "Well, we have all stayed with friends for a break, haven't we?" Yes, Jim, once or twice, but Tony Blair is a serial, indeed obsessive, offender. Since he became Labour leader, has he ever paid for a holiday?
I would estimate he has enjoyed £750,000 in benefits for himself and his family, often including large travel subsidies from the British taxpayer for his travel costs.These holidays were given by "friends" such as Silvio Berlusconi who expected and got political favours in return. Cliff Richard and Robin Gibb will be pleased that Mr Blair is now an ardent advocate to extend copyright protection of ageing rock stars. There is no such thing as a free holiday, just like a free lunch. But the wider question is what does this serial freeloading tell us about the man and the party he leads? In my 20 years of watching (inside and outside) the rise of Blair and the decline of socialism in Labour, I have concluded that his major preoccupations are power and wealth, preferrably for himself.

Hugh Kerr, 31 Melville Street, Kilmarnock.

"Provided there is no proven impropriety or misuse of taxpayers' money, it is none of our business." So, presumably, unproven impropriety is none of our business, like the ongoing investigation into cash for honours? It is good to see the rule "Thou must not get caught" printed in black and white, straight from Jim Sheridan, MP.

Alan Ritchie, 2 Carolside Avenue, Clarkston.

GUESS what, Jim Sheridan, MP, I care and I'll wager a million or so other Scots with their brains engaged, do also. What actually were you suggesting in your silly little letter? It read to me as: "Look, we were hanging Saddam so that Tony could sneak off and schmooze with a rich celeb without too much hassle." Didn't the big bad press spin it like should? Saturday night fever, indeed. See you at the ballot box.

Colum K Buchanan, 9 Greenlaw Avenue, Paisley.