Turning Greens

Such worries did not prevent members of York Green Party making approaches to York Socialist Alliance ahead of last year's local elections to request an informal arrangement to avoid clashing in certain seats, notably Fishergate.

Respect has made numerous similar requests to the Green Party this year, aimed at maximising the left-of-Labour vote. All have been summarily rejected, with the Green Party turning on Respect with venom and taunts that could only benefit Tony Blair, New Labour and the warmongers.

Respect has grown out of the mass movement against the war on Iraq and is therefore a broader coalition than the Greens, and includes forces, such as the trade unions, the Greens have never sought to mobilise.

Respect represents a genuine progressive trend, and will therefore be getting my vote on June 10. I hope everyone opposed to the war and the occupation of Iraq will also cast their vote for Respect: the Unity Coalition.

Frank Ormston,

Waverley Street, York.

...WITH reference to Denise Craghill's letter, I must make a stand on behalf of the Monster Raving Loony Party's record with reference to its campaign for Europe.

We were the first party to suggest that the butter mountains should be sculpted into ski slopes. We suggested that the wine lakes would be used as an ideal connoisseur's holiday spot.

We suggested that the Channel Tunnel should be sloped downwards and used as a sewage outlet.

As far as Iraq is concerned, we were the first party to suggest that all weapons should be kept in the fridge to stop them going off.

We were also the first party to question the fact that if you had to have your postal vote witnessed, how would that be a secret ballot?

So this time around, vote Loony - you know it makes sense!

Eddie Vee,

Official Monster Raving Loony Party,

Wenham Road, York.

Updated: 11:09 Thursday, May 20, 2004