BECAUSE it is an offence for a member of the public to bribe or attempt to bribe a holder of public office, why is it not so for a holder of public office to do likewise, so he may be returned to that office for a further period?

According to my information, a Parliamentary candidate may not offer inducements to secure re-election.

Isn't Chancellor Gordon Brown, left, in breach of this law over his latest Budget and should he not be prosecuted?

Martin Cruttwell,

Hamilton House,

Scrayingham, York.

Updated: 09:30 Friday, March 18, 2005