HYNDBURN MP Greg Pope has got a tough task next week, heading for holiday destination Cyprus.

Although its not high summer, he is looking forward to his trip to the troubled island with the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee. The committee intends to visit both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parts of the island which was split in 1972 after a Greek Government inspired coup was followed by a Turkish military invasion.

Mr Pope said: "Its a four-day trip but I don't have any strong views but I'm probably slightly pro-Greek.

"I accept there is a lot of history here and I must admit I am not impressed with the Turkish human rights record.

"I also believe that there is no reason to stop the main, Greek, part of Cyprus joining the European Union.

Who wouldn't look forward to four days of fact-finding in a bit of Mediterranean spring sun?

COLNE'S Lord Greaves has raised the issue of Blackburn MP Jack Straw's comments about Clarets fans eating bananas with their feet and the fact it is offensive to great apes.

He asked Baroness Symons if this was not an incitement to bad behaviour by fans and whether it was an appropriate comment from a government minister.

She said the remarks were made "in jest" on Radio 5 Live in Mr Straw's capacity as a Blackburn Rovers fan.

Clearly Lord Greaves has had a sense of humour bypassed or has started to consider himself to be the Jimmy Greaves of the Liberal Democrats.

PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice continued his career of annoying government ministers at Westminster this week.

This time Deputy Premier John Prescott was on the receiving end.

He was asked about the introduction of a Civil Service Bill . Mr Prentice remarked of his reply: "That is a good answer, but it does not tell me anything that I did not already know. I am mystified over why there should be so much navel-gazing on this issue." Mr Prescott replied tartly: "As you will recall, you asked the same question on an earlier occasion."