UNTIL recently, I was a Labour supporter for more than 50 years. I remember Jack Straw as the bagman to the dear, late Barbara Castle [pictured] at her parliamentary seat in Blackburn and at Westminster. She was an excellent mentor and from her profound experience she guided and tutored Straw through the complexities of high-level political activities.

Straw succeeded her as Blackburn MP. After a stint as home secretary Blair saw fit to move him to the Foreign Office. Far from being resolute and impressive in the role, he has dithered, changed his mind, prevaricated, and been a total failure. He appears to have settled as Blair's poodle just as Blair is Bush's poodle.

Poor Barbara will be spinning in her grave. Had she been alive she would have straightened both Blair and Straw out with a few rasping, logical guidelines in their ears and influenced a considerable change for the better. We urgently need changes at the top. Has Gordon Brown lost his tongue?

James Dougan,

2 Friars Park, Lanark.

I found myself in almost complete agreement with A B Robertson's diagnosis and sentiments about caning New Labour as hard as possible in the Holyrood election (Letters, February 14), although I ceased to cast an automatic Labour vote when Harold Wilson's ''white heat of technological revolution'' died to a dull cherry red. Granted that True Labour (as distinct from New Labour) voters might find individuals in some of the other parties who would not be too incompatible, in their political ideas and intentions, the effect of such haphazard defection might be even more damaging to our already ailing political process.

I am fortunate in that, living in West Falkirk, the Canavan Factor or, if that name seems too reminiscent of Messianic Blairism, the Falkirk Factor, saves me from the dilemma. Given that the media are telling us that Labour activists and voters in Scotland are increasingly estranged from the warmongering leadership and its habits of institutionalised carpet-baggery would it not make sense if they worked to ensure that there were independent or True Labour local and parliamentary candidates available at the next elections thereby not caning their party but reviving and renewing it?

In this way the Canavan Effect, which ensures that the ''man'' (or ''woman'' of course) is not merely a hollow tube through which the one-way-only ''Message'' is conveyed to a bewildered and disillusioned faithful, could be spread throughout Scotland to the benefit of all.

Geo S Neil Mochrie,

16 Heugh Street, Falkirk.

IT has been suggested that if the war on Iraq is short and ''bloodless'' it should be seen as some sort of success for Tony Blair's leadership. It is difficult to imagine how, with the military might at the disposal of the US, the Iraqis could hold out for any length of time. We want to make it clear as Labour Party members that we are opposed to this war in principle, because it will mean possibly hundreds of thousands of lives lost in order to shore up US global leadership in general and US control of global oil in particular.

It would, therefore, be an international, criminal act. We oppose it because even one human life lost is too bloody. It is clear that the war is not supported by a majority in the country and in the Labour Party and trade-union movement. If Blair endorses this war, however short, he, and those who support him, sacrifice the moral and political right to lead the Labour Party.

Councillor Aileen Colleran, Gordon Brown, Pauline Bryan, John Craig, Alex Falconer, Rozanne Foyer, Tom Guthrie, Lynn Henderson, John McAllion, MSP, Simon Macfarlane, Councillor Tom McKeown, Mike McNicholl, Bob Thomson, Vince Mills, Dave Moxham, Bryan Poole, Alex Smith, Elaine Smith, MSP,

c/o 22 Lynedoch Street, Glasgow.