3 OCTOBER 1998, Page 37

Simple Simon

Sir: Sion Simon knows absolutely nothing about me, my political beliefs or my activity in the Labour party, yet feels free to sug- gest that I am a liar, to denounce me as a `nutter', 'maniac', 'delusional' and 'crazy- eyed extremist' and to compare me to 'a spy or user of prostitutes' (Nutters to beat Blair', 19 September). Is this supposed to be serious journalism? The article is utterly bereft of facts or logic, or indeed intelli- gence in any sense of the word. As a socialist, I often disagree with much that I read in The Spectator, but I recognise it as a serious forum of literate journalism. This infantile exercise in Yahoo-style char- acter assassination plumbed the depths and is a discredit to your magazine.

Liz Davies

London N1