At the 1997 General Election, I had the honour of being the constituency secretary for the Hove Labour Party.

Within two years of that historic victory, I walked away from the party in total disgust.

I have had a good fortune to spend the past 12 months touring the US in a mobile home. On my return to the UK, I did something I never thought I would do.

I wrote to Tony Blair and pledged total backing, loyalty and support.

Much as my US trip was a wonderful experience, it showed me the world is in the greatest danger it has faced since the eve of the Second World War.

In relation to September 11, on four separate occasions and at locations hundreds of miles apart, Americans said to me: "Thank God Tony Blair is there to keep George W Bush under control."

Much as I thought Mr Blair is not too popular in this country, in the US he is seen as the stronger of the two leaders.

A combination of September 11 and recession has left the Americans a frightened and bewildered people. As such, they are not thinking rationally.

On one hand, they do not want their government to do anything rash.

On the other, they want action. A very common comment is: "We should go nuke the bastards." If you ask who exactly they want to nuke, you are met with silence. They want to nuke somebody but they are not quite sure who.

That is why it is essential, on this side of the Atlantic, we give Tony Blair total backing.

-Stuart Bower, Boundary Road, Hove