Sir - In a breathtaking example of self-congratulation, Manus O'Boyle of the SDLP (April 28th) informs us that, with the exception of those opposed to the Belfast Agreement, the entire political map of the island has been remade in the image of his party - and in particular of his party leader, whose "edifice" the Agreement is. (No doubt, we can look forward to calls for the renaming of Stormont.)
Of the many inaccuracies and distortions which are reflected in Mr O'Boyle's looking-glass, I take most exception to his references to the Alliance Party and to "the Stickies" (i.e. the Workers' Party).
Mr O'Boyle tells us that, along with other unionist parties, the Alliance Party "adopted the characteristic tones of the SDLP - understanding, reason, patience, forbearance . . . willingness to consider compromise." The idea that the Alliance Party learned its core non-sectarian principles through listening to the tones of the SDLP is nothing short of laughable.
In the same vein, Mr O'Boyle accuses the Workers' Party (and later the Provisionals) of having "grudgingly, ungraciously and ungratefully purloined the language and logic of Hume". Whatever one may say about Sinn Fein, the language and the logic of the antisectarian and socialist Workers' Party are very far removed from those of the Catholic, nationalist and mildly social democratic SDLP.
The measure of how far political parties can live with sectarianism is found in their attitudes to segregated education. The Alliance Party and the Workers' Party are opposed. Mr O'Boyle's party believes in "parental choice", i.e. the status quo. - Yours, etc.,
Justin O' Hagan
Camden Street, Belfast 9.