I FEEL I must take issue with your reporting in Thursday's Advertiser of comments made by John Reid.

Had you taken the time to read them in full, you would have realised that they were, in fact, an attack on single issue, vested-interest campaigning so beloved by the middle/chattering classes.

Their attack on smoking is the latest in a long line of such campaigns which tend to be based on shouting loudest in a media-friendly way, while distorting or ignoring the facts.

For instance, the fuel tax escalator, hunting and banning corporal punishment in schools, to name but a few, are indicative of their "I'm better off than you, therefore I'm better than you, therefore you don't count," approach.

I currently live in Liden but stayed in Park North when I first came down from Scotland.

I originate from a council schemed town of about 20,000 people, 20 pubs, three bowling greens and er ... that's it.

The town planners in their infinite wisdom build leisure facilities which are out of reach without transport have you tried catching a bus on a Sunday?

Running such a badly researched front page on an election day is unfortunate, but doing the dirty work for such a narrow-minded section of society reminded me of reading the Sun in the 80s.

Might I suggest that you get off your high horse, get a life and stop interfering with ours.

I am almost looking forward to a ban on smoking for, when the Chancellor cranks up the taxes to make up the shortfall, the squealing of the middle classes will be as music to my ears.

MICHAEL GILLEN

Liden