13 JULY 2002, Page 28

Biffing the natives

From Mr Roger Broad Sir: Matthew Parris is quite right (Another voice, 6 July). In its heyday Britain threw its weight about by sending gunboats with a shore party of bluejackets on 'punitive expeditions' to teach disrespectful natives how to behave. George W. Bush now does the same. But the curious aspect of all this is how the Right in this country, usually and traditionally the defenders of British sovereignty and selfesteem, has subsumed itself fully into the United States, with no hint of self-assertion.

Roger Broad

London W2