WAR in Iraq was today thrust on to centre stage in the York election campaign as Labour's Hugh Bayley was forced to defend his stance on the issue.

Mr Bayley was criticised for not attending a hustings organised by an anti-war lobby group.

Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green Party candidates were there along with more than 100 voters.

But Mr Bayley - who as city MP voted for an invasion after previously opposing the use of force to topple Saddam Hussein - decided not to accept an invite from York Against The War.

As rivals lined up to criticise his no-show on Thursday night, Mr Bayley denied dodging the issue.

In a letter to the organisers, Mr Bayley said: "I have met with York Against the War in the past and am always happy to debate issues, particularly with people who disagree with me, provided it takes place on the basis of openness and respect for the opinions of others."

Branding the meeting "partisan", he added: "You have encouraged your supporters but not people with different views to attend. This is reasonable for a pressure group with a particular view to promote.

"But your proposed event, I am afraid, is not the kind of meeting that I can make a priority during the election."

He added that he would attend more meetings than ever this campaign, and had been invited to more than in any other election.

"The war in Iraq will be raised at other meetings," he told the Evening Press. "We all have to make choices about how to use our time." Mr Bayley said he backed military action in Iraq due to Saddam's "appalling" human rights record, the threat Iraq posed to neighbouring states and the danger of his chemical weapons technology being passed to terror groups.

But the Labour man was today criticised for not attending the Fishergate meeting.

Andrew Waller, Lib Dem, accused Mr Blair of "ducking a challenge".

He said the election was important to restore trust in government.

"It is unbelievable the Labour candidate is so afraid that he will not defend his record."

Conservative Clive Booth said he would have defied his party whip and would not have voted for Britain to go to war in Iraq. He said the audience was furious Mr Bayley was not at the meeting.

Tracy Shippey, of York Against the War, said: "Like the weapons of mass destruction, Hugh Bayley failed to materialise."

She said his decision not to attend left the group with two chances to quiz Mr Bayley about the war, fair trade and issues in the Middle East, at public meetings to be held on May 1 and May 3.

Updated: 11:12 Monday, April 25, 2005