I NOTE, with some cynicism, the support that Gordon Brown has suddenly found for the idea of using the Union Flag as some sort of rallying cry for his main plank.

The Chancellor is clearly attempting to remind people that he is supposed to be Tony Blairs heir apparent as both Labour leader and Prime Minister.

This smacks of hypocrisy, as since they came to power Labour has played down overt Britishness as second to Europeanism.

This was apparent from the first big Euro meeting, attended by the late Robin Cook as Foreign Secretary. He put great emphasis on no concessions to Europe, yet returned making concessions on items that had not been on the original agenda.

Labour has endorsed Europeanism to such an extent that they reprimand councils for flying the national flag, saying the European Union flag has precedence on all formal occasions.

This is a flag, incidentally, that most Europeans cannot even recognise.

This ploy by Gordon Brown looks like a desperate attempt by the forgotten man to remind people he is a man of substance.

Mike Straw

Maze Street

Darcy Lever