SIR: People born with common surnames such as Cooper, Harris or Patel sometimes have a burden to bear.

As an occasional writer to Points of View, I should be grateful if you would make it clear that I am not, nor have I, any connection with the 'Mr Cooper' who is under fire for his obnoxious comments - at present directed at Ruth Kelly MP. He is Ivan, and, not surprisingly, the Chairman of Horwich Conservatives. I was particularly annoyed recently, when a supporter of that 'Mr Cooper', wrote under cover of 'Name and address supplied', and I was telephoned to ask if I was the writer.

How lucky are those people born with surnames like Leatherbarrow, Stringfellow or even Rossiter.

?B W Tyas Cooper

Breckland Drive

Heaton, Bolton

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