25 MAY 2002, Page 29

Conservative legacy

From Mr Chris Bertram Sir: While sympathising with much of Simon Heffer's fulmination about the erosion of Britain's democratic institutions (`The case for anarchy', 18 May), those of us with our long-term memories intact are less disposed than he is to blame the current Labour government alone. The abolition of the GLC. rate-capping, Michael Heseltine's declaration apropos the Newspeakly named 'community charge' that the only majority that mattered was the one in the House of Commons, and the transfer of powers from elected councils to unelected development corporations were all highlights of the Conservative administration.

Chris Bertram

Department of Philosophy, University of Bristol