SIR – David Rhodes (T&A, December 22) may well believe that Lord Ashcroft is doing the nation a service by using his great wealth to buy up and then display as many Victoria Crosses as he can.

I, however, doubt his altruism and believe that he is probably motivated by a desire to improve an image which has been badly tarnished by his involvement with Conservative party politics and business dealings in Belize.

To use the symbols of other men’s outstanding acts of gallantry for his own advantage is not only wrong, it is despicable.

Brian Holmans, Langley Road, Bingley