THE CND poll estimate that three-quarters of Labour election candidates are opposed to Trident renewal may or may not be entirely accurate but clearly reflects significant disquiet about British nuclear weapons amongst mainstream politicians ("CND: Three quarters of Labour hopefuls oppose renewing Trident", The Herald, March 4).

Somehow that disquiet becomes muted in public political debate. There may be a parallel to that in the anti-nuclear views expressed by some retired military personnel, and within the Establishment there may be debate and uncertainty about possession of weapons of mass destruction which does not reach the public sphere.

Yet the leadership of the main UK parties seem unable to countenance any alternative to maintaining a nuclear weapons arsenal for the next 30 years. Are we faced here with suppression of real discussion and with an apparent political consensus not based on genuine views and advice within government? Instead there is the perception that being open to a process of nuclear disarmament would somehow diminish Britain's status and would be unacceptable in the voting booth. If that is so, the more this debate is openly pursued the better. And a good starting point for the forthcoming election would be for constituents to follow up the CND initiative by clarifying the views of all their local candidates.

Duncan MacIntyre,

74 Montgomery Street,

Eaglesham.