A NEW order banning MPs from "swearing" at voters in emails has raised a smile among York and North Yorkshire's elected members.

All those the Evening Press spoke to said they were surprised that any MP would think about swearing at a voter, no matter what their political persuasion.

The language stays clean, whether the conversation is face-to-face or via cyber-space, they said.

"Occasionally there is the need for a bit of plain speaking, but no need for swearing, particularly not for someone of good Catholic education like myself," said Selby MP John Grogan.

He said: "I really wouldn't have thought too much swearing at voters went on, I would be surprised to hear there was."

Ryedale MP John Greenway said: "I have not sworn at a voter either although I have bitten my tongue a few times.

"I wouldn't do it, but I have been known to utter the odd expletive while at Bootham Crescent," added the MP, who is also president of York City.

York MP Hugh Bayley said: "I have never sworn at a voter. I can understand people get frustrated but do not think anything is solved by swearing."

The swearing ban reportedly came in a memo from the Parliamentary Communications Directorate, a body that carries out tasks including running the internal Parliamentary intranet.

The memo is said to have warned MPs that "profanities of a sexual and offensive nature" would be blocked from leaving email accounts. Any "colourful" computer message would then be sent back to the MP with a warning the language was "inappropriate".

Mr Bayley said he receives about 100 emails a day, though only a few from voters, while Mr Grogan said his website attracted 2,000 hits last month.

Updated: 12:09 Monday, January 20, 2003