20 JULY 1996, Page 24

Sir: Did even Harold Wilson in his last months as

prime minister attract such scathing contempt as Paul Johnson expressed for John Major? Let us hope the idealistic Tony Blair, if and when he tries to lead us into the promised land, won't per- mit the 'hint of steel' to go to his head. Mosley, Franco, Mussolini, Stalin and Hitler all believed in 'grand ideals' and 'magnificent visions'. Most of them even claimed to be socialists of some kind or other. Personally, I feel we might all be happier muddling through with Major.

George T. White

Woodside, Petteridge Lane, Matfield, Kent