19 SEPTEMBER 1987, Page 38

Bad-mouthpiece

Sir: The BBC has rightly appointed, staunch supporters of Mr Kinnock and Mr Steel as spokesman for their parties in the coverage of all three forthcoming party conferences. It is the more disgraceful, therefore, that they have appointed as Tory spokesman one of Mrs Thatcher's bitterest enemies within the party, Mr Julian Critchley MP, who has just published a book promoting his life-long friend Mr Michael Heseltine for prime minister. The viewers will be warned not to accept Mr Critchley's subtle denigration of Mrs Thatcher in any of the conference tele- sion coverage.

Gordon M. L. Smith

9 Greenfield Way, Storrington, Sussex