The Editor, Sir:

When I heard his statement about peppering Vin Lawrence over Lawrence's involvement with the Whitehouse scandal, I thought Audley Shaw had suffered temporary insanity. What was he thinking? Or, more appropriately, was he thinking at all? That was Sunday night.

By Tuesday morning Mr. Shaw regained his senses. He ate humble pie, lots of it. Instead of being the 'pepperee', he was himself properly peppered. To my disbelief but immense satisfaction, Mr. Shaw did the right, decent and morally correct thing.

He admitted he made a mistake, duly apologised and promptly resigned as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. That position, which should have served as the vehicle for his peppering, was no more his to so use. Shaw took his licks like a man and has gone up immeasurably in my estimation.

Unfortunately, we have come to expect so little of our leaders when it comes to suffering the consequences of their actions. When mistakes and misjudgements are made, all we often get are arrogant responses and/or stone cold silence. We have come to believe this is right and normal.

Thank you, Mr. Shaw, for showing us that while politicians are mere mortals and will err, some still respect decency and good taste and will stand corrected when they falter.

I am, etc.,

GILLIAN MILTON

gtyu24@yahoo.com

Mandeville, Manchester