Letter: Good natured Mr Lawrence

Sir: Grateful though I am for Polly Toynbee's kind words ("The committee wakes - to loud debate, we hope", 31 July), I think she has been most unfair to my predecessor as Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, Ivan Lawrence.

He is neither "florid in complexion" nor "limited in brain". On the contrary, as friend and foe alike will acknowledge, he has a very sharp intellect, an enormous capacity for work, an excellent sense of humour and is remarkably good natured.

We didn't always see eye to eye, but I certainly respected him.

CHRIS MULLIN MP

(Sunderland South, Lab)

House of Commons

London SW1