AT the public meeting with parliamentary candidates in the Priory Street Centre, York, Michael McIntyre several times used 'Third World as a term of abuse, when attacking Labour's record on the health service. This distasteful reference clearly revealed the narrowness of his outlook.

How well does Mr McIntyre know the so-called Third World which he so insultingly disparages? There is only one world, but sadly, 25 per cent of its inhabitants use 75 per cent of its resources.

In his career in and out of politics, Hugh Bayley has consistently attempted to adjust this imbalance, during his days with the International Broadcasting Trust; in his support for Oxfam's work; in Bills which he has introduced in parliament and by his help to bring regional policy forums of the Department for International Development to York.

At the meeting on May 24, Bill Shaw for the Green Party and Frank Ormston for the Socialist Alliance highlighted several aspects of Labour's performance in its first term which may have disappointed those of us who voted for it in 1997.

In the breadth of his horizons, however, Mr Bayley showed himself to be head and shoulders above his Conservative opponent, and I think he deserves our ringing endorsement on June 7.

Mary Machen,

St John's Crescent, York.

Updated: 11:06 Friday, June 01, 2001