MADAM - As a friend of Julie Kirkbride I was delighted to read in the Advertiser that she has joined the Board of Ofsted where she can bring the same enthusiasm and passion to her work that she displayed whilst being our MP.

I think the article might have included the fact that a report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards found her not guilty of any wrong doing over expenses - six months after she stood down.

It might also have pointed out that over half the House of Commons were asked to repay money claimed in expenses (including the Prime Minister), not because the claims were false, but because the allowances were deemed to have been too generous.

Rita Dent