ONE can be forgiven for feeling sorry for York's Labour MP, Hugh Bayley. Not of course for his £25,000 pay rise, nor for his elevation to his government's payroll.

His dilemma is that, despite a track record so distinctly 'Real' Labour, he now finds himself having to promote the very policies he bent over backwards to oppose so vociferously when campaigning for election.

Under pain of ministerial sacking he must now defend a government which:

* In 20 months has reduced our NHS to a state of crisis

* Is threatening to privatise parts of his state education service

* Has betrayed the interests of his own constituents by selling our prestige Army HQ with all its quality jobs for the 30 pieces of silver needed to boost his party's prospects in their devolved Scottish parliament.

Oh dear, how leopards change their spots! An honest socialist remaining true to his principles deserves our respect at least.

But those prepared to sell their political souls to some "third way" Mephistopheles deserve only the Faustean damnation of their electorate.

Ken Beavan,

Albemarle Road,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.