I think K. Bankes (Opinion, August 4) on the causes of Labour's loss of power in 1979 was slightly misleading.

The Winter of Discontent was not a phenomenon "during the late Seventies" but of the winter of 1978-9.

What actually brought Callaghan's government down was an alliance of Liberals, Scottish Nationalists and Ulster Unionists. The Nationalists wished to punish the government for refusing Scottish home-rule legislation. So they facilitated a vote of no confidence, which was won by one vote, against the government.

But consider this: In July 1977, the miners demanded £135 for a four-day week. At the same time, average house prices in London and the south-east were £16,731. House prices are now ten times as much. "Greedy, left-wing miners" by the same token would be expecting £2,700 for an eight-day week, £1,685 for five days.

-F G Robinson, Arundel Terrace, Brighton