Letter: Voices of England

Sir: The "new wave" of English traditional music is timely ("Now that's what I call trad music", 17 December). It helps to illustrate the diversity of England's cultural and political history. Our city streets are littered with statues of monarchs and generals, as if it is these people who define our country. The songs that are being revived and reinterpreted remind us that the Levellers, Thomas Paine and the Chartists were also voices of England. We must not allow politicians to perpetuate the idea that England is all about "the forces of conservatism".

STEVE RICHARDS

London SE13