Various correspondents have taken me to task over the smoking ban and pub closures.

Only time will tell as to the outcome, but as I have said before, it is freedom of choice that is being eroded and little do most people realise that this is just another nail in the coffin of democracy.

This Orwellian Government is slowly but surely turning Britain into the most spied upon nation in the world and we are now controlled like moronic individuals.

Every Tom, Dick or Harry from foreign shores now appears to have unfettered access to our jobs, homes and country, driving down wages with the apparent blessing of our masters in Whitehall.

Fancy a weekend in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Wight, or even a flight from Bournemouth to Birmingham?

Then you will now have to answer 53 questions as diverse as who booked your trip at the travel agents to what is your email address, no doubt so that messages can be sent out from the Ministry of Propaganda.

Ninety per cent of the other information requested is already on file on the Big Brother or police database anyway.

Why is this information required? No, I don't buy this anti-terrorism rubbish - that's just used as a lame excuse for everything.

No doubt, in time, there will be a very large building opened by the Queen which will be known as the Ministry of Truth, with a floor or two occupied by the thought police.

The Americans have a Bill of Rights guaranteeing their personal freedoms.

Perhaps the time draws near when we will be denied even that.

I am off to the paper shop now to get today's Oxford Mail. It's OK - I've emailed Gordon Brown and let him know in advance.

TONY ANCHORS Didcot