Letters to the Editor | 16 June 2007

Blair’s conscience

Sir: Charles Moore may be correct that Mr Blair wishes to become a Catholic on relinquishing office (The Spectator’s Notes, 9 June). Whether this is appropriate or not is another matter. Throughout his time in Parliament Mr Blair has failed consistently to follow the unequivocal teaching of the Church — on the protection of the unborn child, for instance, on experimentation on human embryos and on civil partnerships. His government was particularly vicious in handling the hierarchy and Catholic adoption agencies over the Sexual Orientation Regulations. As a convert to the faith, Mr Moore knows that after professing the Nicene Creed, those being received into full communion with the Catholic Church state publicly: ‘I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.’ Could the Prime Minister say that in good conscience?

Paul Keeley
Glasgow

Money bags

Sir: In his article ‘Hatred of the rich is back in fashion’ (9 June) Ross Clark wondered ‘What about the people who sew the £10,000 handbags together — surely the more that the wealthy spend on their handbags, the more they earn?’ Does he really believe that the sewers of hyper-handbags earn more than those who sew the mundane totes of everywoman? They’re sewn by the same people, for God’s sake, and for the same pathetic pittance. Unintentionally, Clark actually makes the opposite point that he intended — the more £10,000 handbags that are purchased, the richer the wealthy become. The poor who sew the bags are unaffected because the difference is all in the margin.

Edward Collier
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire