LAST week I attended an election hustings on international issues at the Friends Meeting House.
Candidates from the Conservative, Green and Lib-Dem parties attended and were unafraid to state their views on a wide range of issues.
However, there was a large gap on the platform left by our Labour candidate, Hugh Bayley.
In 2003, Mr Bayley voted in favour of attacking Iraq. Whether you support or oppose this decision, the very least he can do is turn up to a public meeting and defend his actions.
There will not be many other opportunities in this campaign where this issue can be fully aired in a public debate, and the obvious conclusion is that Mr Bayley was actively avoiding the issue.
Politicians must be accountable to the public if they want to command respect. Mr Bayley is more than happy to engage in photo opportunities any day of the week.
Perhaps his aversion to hustings is that people can actually answer back.
Peter Sanderson,
Wellington Street,
York.
Updated: 09:29 Monday, April 25, 2005
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