Richard Drax or Victor Meldrew – who would you vote for?

The latest ill-tempered rant by Richard Drax (Echo, March 8) against his usual targets may inform your decision.

A few thoughts on our MP's comments: 1. Our highly professional army, one of the largest in Europe, is far from a ‘gendarmerie’ and has recently successfully fought major campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Richard Drax demeans the army he claims to support!

2. Having worked for Oxfam for 11 years, I have seen at first hand the real improvements in the lives of poor people that carefully targeted overseas aid has made. What is Mr Drax's experience in the field of overseas aid? I am happy to share with him my experiences of working in India and Zaire, if he wishes and I commend our prime minister for his commitment to improve the lives of the Third World poor.

3. “Money thrown at the EU” is his favourite rant! Let's have a few figures: the UK is still one of the richest countries of the 27 EU members and, as such, is on balance a net contributor to the budget, but UK regions benefit greatly from EU grants, as did Dorset last year. I am myself involved in an EU funded project, linking three SW counties (including Dorset) with two French Departments in Normandy. Details freely available – just ask me.

4. In our democracy, we all benefit from free speech, but speaking our minds thoughtlessly can sometimes cause great offence to others, as Councillor Chapman has recently found. Perhaps Richard Drax would like to comment on the Costa Councillor case?

Not even a rant worthy of Victor Meldrew – at least he was funny and, at times, showed great sympathy for others, two qualities that Richard Drax clearly lacks.

Still, it has been said that what keeps the rich wealthy is their lack of understanding of and empathy for the poor, whether in this country or overseas.

So Victor Meldrew or Richard Drax?

I would vote for Victor Meldrew every time.

John Tomblin, Stanier Road, Preston