27 NOVEMBER 1971, Page 37

Sir: 'The coalition of centre and right-wing Labour MPs still,

thankfully, retains its easy dominance' (The Spectator's Notebook, November 13). No doubt it does right to be thankful — but this, suspectfully, probably isn't what the Notebook means.

Can't you, please, stop all this? Illiterate Americanisms, particularly when they create unnecessary ambiguities, should have no place in The Spectator; none at all.

Edmund Crispin Higher Week, Dartington, Totnes, Devon I cringe. — Editor, The Spectator.