I READ with astonishment the letter from Claire Ward in the Watford Observer of June 14 trying to justify her recent Junket to Japan as being a charity fund raising trip.

This escapade must be one of the most blatant examples of elected representatives enjoying the trappings of power ever to reach the public domain.

Just the thing that Tony Blair promised to squash when he was elected in 1997. Ms Ward clearly needs to be made aware that the parliamentary recess is a time for MPs to be in their constituencies serving the people that elected them not a time to take advantage of a freebie that comes their way.

As for the charity angle, Watford is a town with many excellent and worthwhile local charities. Any of these would have benefited greatly from the celebrity of the local MP attending their events.

But no, Ms Ward prefers to play football on the other side of the world. No wonder members of other parties did not accompany her they would have been too busy working in their constituencies.

G Denman, Holbein Gate, Northwood.

July 4, 2002 10:30