20 JANUARY 1996, page 21

Sir: I Rubbed My Eyes In Amazement As I Read

your letters page (13 January) about Mr Paul Johnson's article. Though disliking Mr Johnson's discourtesies, I recall the arti- cle as presenting, with a wealth of inciden- tal......

Sir: I Think Mr Paul Johnson Is Wrong On One

count at any rate when he calls Lord Goderich 'the best shot in England'. Surely this accolade goes to the Prime Minister's grandson, the second Marquis of Ripon, who, I......

Letters Alien Leaders

Sir: 'Because he is named Portillo, as opposed to Smith or Jones, he is unlikely ever to be elected leader of the Conserva- tive Party.' Miss Petronella Wyatt is an excellent......

Wotabout

Sir: Whataboutism' used to be frequently a communist technique whereby any criticism of the Soviet Union was countered by refer- ence to some Western imperfections. You dared to......

Neglected Gnome

Sir: Paul Johnson's snobbish attacks on John Major (And another thing, 6 January) may be explained by referring to Major Major, the memoirs of the Prime Minister's elder......

Whips And Waiters

Sir: Mr Bruce Anderson asserts (Politics, 6 January) that Mr William Cash is 'a world- class bore'. I have known Mr Cash for sev- eral years and I have always found him to be......