12 APRIL 1997, Page 28

Waste producers

Sir: What is it with right-wingers and human solid waste? Neil Hamilton (It is untrue', 29 March) describes Max Clifford as 'Fayed's effluent-spreader' (untrue), a Daily Telegraph leader characterises Mr Al Fayed's disclosures about errant MPs as 'effluent' and Paul Johnson calls Mr Al Fayed 'the feculent Pharaoh'. Are they being facetious or is their interest in sewage what is meant by being anal retentive, or non-retentive, as the case may be?

Michael Cole

Harrods, Knightsbridge, London SW1