CYNICS might complain that they have given us enough earache already. But the willingness of York's Parliamentary hopefuls to join a candidates' karaoke is commendable.

They have all risen to Eddie Vee's Loony tune suggestion that they compete in some choral canvassing. Except, that is, the UK Independence Party man. We might have expected him to jump at the chance to belt out Rule Britannia.

Labour's Hugh Bayley, whose boss put the pop into populist, is game for a laugh.

He will need to check with the PM that they are singing from the same hymn sheet, however.

All the candidates will want to hit the right note with voters. But who will send them boogying to the ballot box?

Updated: 11:04 Friday, June 01, 2001