I believe Ian Bell to be quite wrong when he says: "The Coalition means to flog off the east coast line before the next General Election, thus preventing a future Labour Government from embarking on renationalisation" ("Privatising east coast line an express route to disaster", The Herald, March 27).

Surely all the Labour Party has to do is to announce, before privatisation, that should they win the election, the line will be renationalised with absolutely minimum compensation, if any.

They won't, of course, being enthusiastic privatisers themselves.

Eric Duncan,

11a Muirend Road, Cardross.