I FOUND John Utting's letter "We will end up with the Tories", (EA March 22) so deeply offensive as to beggar belief.

The asinine comment that people are "praying" for an Al Qaeda atrocity in the UK was bad enough, but to go on to make cheap political capital out the horrific events in Madrid was inexcusable.

Mr Utting, the people who died in Madrid weren't left-wing or right-wing. They weren't exercising a political viewpoint, they were simply slaughtered. I greatly resent your use of their suffering to try to score points off your political opponents.

The real political lesson from Madrid is just how dangerous life becomes when people to allow their politics to cheapen the value of human life. It is a lesson Mr Utting would do well to remember.

Steve deeley

Sandwood Close

Sparcells

Swindon

I AM sure many of your readers would have been offended by the comments of M John Utting (EA March 22). In his letter Mr Utting stated that anyone who dared to be anti-war or anti-Blair "was praying for an Al Qaeda atrocity in the UK".

Such a comment is insulting to the many people who opposed the war with Iraq and insults the memory of more than 200 Spanish citizens who died in the Madrid bombing.

Mr Utting should apologise for what were truly inappropriate and uncalled for comments.

I hope the Labour Party in Swindon will disassociate themselves from his remarks and confirm Mr Utting's views are as reprehensible as they are unfounded.

Des Morgan

Caraway Drive