Letter from Andy Newman (From Swindon Advertiser)

Letter from Andy Newman

2:34pm Wednesday 22nd April 2009 in Search

COUNCILLOR Colin Lovell (letters 21st April) has a tremendous cheek getting on his high horse about the so-called smeargate scandal, concerning Derek Draper and Damian McBride, and moaning about the "moral compass" of Labour Party members.

The whole story was broken by two pro-conservative bloggers, Paul Staines and Iain Dale, neither of whom would know a moral compass if it hit them on the head. These bloggers have themselves - for example - pushed the nasty innuendo about Gordon Brown being autistic.

We do need politics to be cleaner - concentrating on real issues; but sadly none of the mainstream parties has clean hands, and I find it particularly galling to be lectured by the Conservatives after the Tory press has spent decades pillorying any left of centre politician that campaigns against their wealth and privilege.

ANDY NEWMAN Belgrave Street Swindon