27 OCTOBER 1973, Page 5

hightened men

Mr Barber and his Cabinet colleagues are obviously frightened men, It is only when you have reached the point of ultimate desperation that You accuse someone of being a ' frus,

trated fanatic' and try to make out that this person is mad.

The attack on Mr Powell was quite uncalled for — after all, it was economic affairs under discussion, it was not a session for character assassination.

Judith Empson Greenacres, Upper Bromlow, Minsterley, Nr Shrewsbury, Salop