5 OCTOBER 1991, Page 26

Towering achievement

Sir: You are a little unkind (Diary, 28 September) about Lord Bottomley's obitu- ary notice of Earl Attlee in the Independent (14 September). Although there is a vivid (and some may think interesting) disparity between the paper achievements of the 2nd Earl and his prime minister father, it must also be pointed out, as did our obituary, that the younger Attlee was for many years a SDP spokesman (on transport and mar- itime affairs), and latterly a Deputy Whip, in the House of Lords. But perhaps you regard all such lordly posts as nugatory?

James Fergusson

The Independent 40 City Road London EC1