SEVERAL husband-and-wife teams are fighting the local election in York - but one couple have topped the lot by standing for opposing parties.

Janet Looker, the city council's executive member for education, is defending her Guildhall Ward seat at the election.

But her husband, Bob, displaying a more left-wing party allegiance than his wife, is fighting the Micklegate seat for York Socialist Alliance.

Bob's chosen seat puts him directly up against his wife's boss, council leader Dave Merrett.

Janet said: "Until very recently he (Bob) has not been very active politically, and we have tended to put things on one side. We tend to leave politics out of our discussions anyway."

Bob said: "At the end of the day I am a socialist, and think, like many socialists, that the Labour Party is not simply a vehicle for socialism, it is an obstacle to achieving it."

Asked if their political stances had caused any awkward breakfast time conversations, Bob said: "We never talk to each other over breakfast at the best of times."

As reported in Wednesday's Evening Press, Bob's and Janet's is not the only very political marriage involved in the election campaign.

The Labour Party has no fewer than three political pairings - Martin and Annette Brumby, Tracey and Iain Simpson-Laing and Bernard and Doris Bell - while the Tories are represented by John Galvin and wife Valmai.

The Lib Dems also have the makings of a political dynasty, with Irene Waudby, her husband, Derek, son, Mark, and daughter-in-law, Sam, all up for the public vote. Steve and Sue Galloway are another political pairing for the Lib Dems.

Two other couples who are very much united by the election are Green candidates John and Gill Cossham and Andy D'Agorne and Denise Craghill.

John and Gill are fighting Hull Road and Guildhall Wards while Andy and Denise are standing in Fishergate and Guildhall.

Updated: 11:16 Monday, April 07, 2003