Labour's hypocrisy on claims

I write in reply to Andrew Finch (Starmail, July 5) who waxed lyrical about this Government's intervention to promote healthy lifestyles by banning smoking in public places and "telling us that less unhealthy food and more exercise is good for you" (Is John Prescott a good example for children to follow?).

Apart from the Government's penchant for policies based on fatuous soundbites the real hypocrisy is that the Government has overseen the sale of countless school playing fields and has virtually eliminated competitive sport in schools - because it is apparently damaging to a child to come second at anything.

I agree that healthier diets and exercise would have a very beneficial impact but this will not be achieved by dictates from central government and neither will it be attained by sneering comments from self-righteous individuals.

It is education and persuasion that will achieve this and not coercion.

James Whittall, Ludlow