Dishonourable tradition

the second-hand claim that the young David cameron did something undignified with a pig might owe more to political tradition than veracity.

According to hunter S. thompson’s book, the Great Shark hunt, U.S. politicians were in the habit of planting vulgar rumours that their opponents were ‘pig- f****rs’ to oblige them to deny it.

‘In both the ohio and nebraska primaries, McGovern was confronted for the first time with the politics of the rabbit-punch and the groin shot, and in both states he found himself dangerously vulnerable to this kind of thing.

‘Dirty politics confused him. he was not ready for it . . . this is one of the oldest and most effective tricks in politics. every hack in the business has used it in times of trouble, and it’s even been elevated to the level of political mythology in a story about one of Lyndon Johnson’s early campaigns in texas.

‘the race was close, and Johnson was getting worried. Finally he told his campaign manager to start a massive rumour campaign about his opponent’s life-long habit of enjoying carnal knowledge of his own barnyard sows.

‘christ, we can’t get away calling him a pig- f*** er?’, the campaign manager protested. ‘nobody’s going to believe a thing like that.’

‘I know,’ Johnson replied. ‘But let’s make the sonofabitch deny it.’

L. CHARMERS, Birmingham.

the content and literary style of the book funded by Lord Ashcroft and written by Isabel oakeshott says more about these individuals than it does about prime Minister David cameron.

the former wanted to ‘ buy’ a position of importance and the latter ‘30 pieces of silver’. Just ask Vicky pryce about Miss oakeshott’s interpretation of loyalty.

GERRY DOYLE, Liverpool.

REVELATIONS about cameron’s drugs and debauchery at university explosive? yes — if it was said he was teetotal, drug-free and a virgin.

PATRICK MORGAN,

Hednesford, Staffs.