CHRIS GALLACHER dismisses as "lies" any suggestion that Ukip wants to privatise the NHS (HAS, Nov 15).

This is despite the fact that, in April, Nigel Farage said: "I genuinely do think, when you occasionally hear of a big businessman that says he'd like to run the National Health Service and streamline it, and get better value for money, I think that's the approach we've got to take."

In June, Ukip deputy leader Paul Nuttall congratulated the Government for "bringing a whiff of privatisation into the beleaguered National Health Service", arguing that "the very existence of the NHS stifles competition".

They have since withdrawn these statements, which is typical of a party that has dismissed its own 2010 manifesto as "drivel", and has regularly made policy announcements, only to retract them when they are shown to be unworkable or unpopular.

I can understand that many voters are disillusioned with British politics, and regard Westminster "career politicians" as out of touch; but I cannot understand why anyone supposes that Ukip politicians might be more trustworthy.

Colin Mortimer's claim (HAS, Nov 22) that Ukip alone "represents the working man" is laughable.

Nigel Farage has proclaimed himself the "heir to Margaret Thatcher".

What did Mrs Thatcher ever do for "the working man"?

Pete Winstanley, Durham.