OK Robert from Ventnor. Help us out here. Which word is it that is spelt wrongly here? Or is it a certain poster on the web who can´t spell?

Mick, Lisbon, Portugal

Is it to early to speculate on a general public loss of faith in Mr Brown's goverment. I, though never a Brownite in the first place, am beginning to yearn for the relative competence of the Blair years.

Naa , Berkshire, UK

Mr. Riddell...can you explain why this goverment you clearly hold so dear to your heart has recently spent millions of tax payers money on Northern Rock, given over 850 million in aid to India (a country whose own index has risen by over 400% in the past 4 years), managed govermental departments who have lost over half the countries details in the post, sent us to war in 2 countries without any direct evidence of wrong doing in the first place, sold the countries gold reserves at a quarter to todays value, increased our council taxes, increase our tv license fees, increased out petrol prices, altered our entire ability to speak, think or demonstrate any rational frustrations in the name of political correctness should be supported by yourself in anyway?

as for Mr. Hain it is another of this goverments disturbing traits that they actually allowed him to carry on even after his boss claimed his behaviour to be 'incompetent'...you could not make this stuff up!

Simon Dyster, dubai, united arab emirates

Conservative sleaze was sleazy but not actually against the law. Hence there was no Police Inquiry. The Labour sleaze is actually against the law, and is not committed by fringe players but by Cabinet Ministers at the heart of Government.

It can only when set against the incredible mess of Northern Rock that this seems a small issue to Peter Riddell. If Gordon Brown thinks failure to declare £103,000 is an "incompetence" what does he think committing £55bn of public funds to a spent force is? That must be what Peter means - surely.

Frank Keegan, Alderley Edge,

Not only are these correspondents missing the point that it was Labour's own daft legislation that has tripped up these people (hardly a defence, but a point to consider) but am I alone in mourning the days when writers to the Times could actually spell.....?

Robert Jones, Ventnor, Isle of Wight UK

Ron Johnson, Oxford

Of course he is, just read the articles by him in "Also in Peter Riddell" below this if you have any doubts.

Morvan, Saulieu, France

Also add that voters are worried about the shedloads of missing personal data along with the other apparent distractions you mention. By the way,when would there be a welcome time for a downfall?

I feel many will see the Hain affair as a benchmark of his government's incompetence and duplicity, who only resigned once the police were on his tail, but notably not before.

Do not underestimate the public; this matter is just added to the list for the day of reckoning when the whole hippocritical lot can be consigned to the pile.

Terry Hawker, L'Absie, France

Not before time.

BR Parsons, Lydney, Gloucestershire

Just checked the obituaries page, no mention of the Perma-Tan kid there, he must be planning yet another disgraced NuLabour Minister comeback!

Glenn - Brit ex-pat, Auckland, NZ

Is Peter Riddell a publicist for the Labour Party, or are the spectacles he wears a wonderful shade of pink? How can he overlook the gross "incompetency" of this so-called minister and the New Labour colleagues of his still under an honesty cloud? This government is exceeding the sleaze of the Conservatives day by grotty day!!!

Ron Johnson, Oxford, UK