IT is interesting to see the Tories trying to cover their tracks.

Even their potential parliamentary candidate in York is distancing himself from the pro-Iraq War stance his party took when George W Bush and Tony Blair clicked their fingers.

In his letter York's rather lonely Tory candidate was correct to point out that Hugh Bayley did indeed vote in favour of the Iraq war against the clear wishes of a great many of his constituents here in the city (July 23).

However, his party cannot claim to have represented constituents' wishes any better. The Liberal Democrats were clear from the start that any military action needed to be as the result of evidence of weapons of mass destruction, and UN support.

We stuck to our position despite criticism from both Labour and the Conservatives.

Subsequent events have reinforced this as the only justifiable position.

Kate Herbert,

City of York Liberal Democrat

secretary,

Stonegate, York.

...IT IS amazing how many surprising people are suddenly discovering deeply-held anti-war principles these days. Conservative parliamentary candidate Clive Booth (Letters, July 23) rightly castigates Tony Blair for taking us into an illegal and immoral war on dodgy evidence, and Hugh Bayley for voting to support him.

But on past Tory form, am I entitled to ask how deep this conviction runs? Let me put this to Mr Booth: will he give a promise that he will oppose any future pre-emptive invasion of another country, even one suggested by a (hypothetical) Tory Prime Minister?

Ben Drake,

Danum Road,

Fulford, York.

...DAVID Forrester remarks on my observation that York's MP voted to take military action with the Government while supporting the antiwar movement in his constituency: "This was a very serious decision by our MP and one taken only after a careful analysis of both the available intelligence and his own moral conscience" (July 28).

At what stage of his journey down to London did our MP's "moral conscience" turn 180 degrees? If his morals - and his constituents in York - told him war was wrong why was it right once he arrived at King's Cross?

I am proud to be a York Quaker and I am a pacifist. The war in Iraq was wrong. Unlike my "socialist" opponent I would not have gone through the pro-war lobby.

My interests lie in York, rather than Westminster, which is why my association chose me.

I grew up and live in York. I see no point being the people's MP only to ignore them. Too bad our MP lost his nerve over Iraq when he needed it most and voted with his party, not his heart.

That is a lack of moral judgement.

Clive Booth,

York's Conservative parliamentary candidate,

Ash Street, York.

Updated: 10:21 Tuesday, August 03, 2004