I would like to respond to both Martin R Maloney (‘Don’t dismiss other views,’ Your Views, August 21) and Malcolm Glynn (‘Nation honoured lady for a reason’, Your Views, August 28).

Firstly, thank you Martin for your apology. I would have also liked to hear more about the historical fantasies, personal hang-ups and political prejudices, but no matter. The phrase ‘aging Thatcherites’ was a little patronising and I apologise for that.

After Malcolm’s letter, I am sure many supporters of Margaret Thatcher will want to distance themselves from him.

Where to start? Well let’s get a few facts straight shall we.

Margaret Thatcher did not receive a state funeral. The nation didn’t honour the lady after all.

I am not, nor ever have been, an NUT commentator, this is fiction. I have never declared triumphantly that minorities still vote Labour, this is fiction.

I am not a Labour member. In fact, as an Irish citizen, I am not allowed to even vote in General Elections.

Malcolm is really keen to label his opponents as ‘loony lefty Marxists’ and wants to draw our fire on Tony Blair and the ILEA.

I am not here to make any kind of defence for Tony Blair or new Labour simply because I don’t want to see Finchley Memorial renamed after the lady.

Also, isn’t it a bit lazy to speculate on what she would have done had she stayed in power.

He has put his cards on the table, but not the way he thinks: “It is true that Finchley is overrun by East Europeans, etc. and ethnic change has been both rapid and terminal.”

I feel obliged to respond to this out of common decency. I am an Irish immigrant who loves London. One of the many reasons I love London is watching how immigrants become Londoners and become part of the community.

My ‘nasty comments’ were about a dead Prime Minister. Malcolm’s nasty comments were about his neighbours. Out of common decency Malcolm, since you hold it in such high regard, apologise to your neighbours for your comment.

Stephen O’Byrne

Miles Way, Whetstone