Letter: Labour poison

Anyone with any real interest in the character of Ed Balls - and Gordon Brown - need only read The End of the Party, Andrew Rawnsley's intricate, meticulously researched, forensic examination of New Labour.

This would indicate Dr John Cameron's views on the essentially destructive and vindictive elements of their characters (Letters, 25 January) to be only too true.

Balls and Brown were obsessed with bringing down Tony Blair - to the point that the Tories and other traditional enemies of their party were left unscathed, such was their determination and concentration in bringing down the man they hated and who had won an unprecedented three elections in a row for them.

They pursued Tony Blair like jackals nipping and biting at the legs of a wounded lion, afraid to face him but determined to get him.

The irony to top all ironies is that when they eventually succeeded in bringing down their leader, Brown proved to be, as was always claimed, psychologically flawed, and totally incapable and unequipped to be prime minster.

Nothing seems to have been learned from that poisonous episode in Labour's history.

Alexander McKay

New Cut Rigg

Edinburgh