HOW exciting! Our council leader has been to London to explore the possibility of a York/Manila axis (The Press, November 30).

Forgive an old sceptic his suspicions that here we have the first seeds of a ‘jolly’ to the Philippines for himself and a couple of others.

Bad enough the costs of a London outing on such an errand, we have much more pressing demands on council funds I am sure than York and Philippine relations.

I feel certain I am not the only one to read between lines and detect a slight odour. We shall see.

Charles Rushton, Pasture Close, Strensall, York.