PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice is fighting for a seat to decide the future policy of the Labour Party.

His decision follows the uproar caused by the Government's decision to cut lone parent benefit and proposed changes affecting sick and disabled people.

He wants to become a member of the new National Policy Forum and introduce a set of basic questions which can apply to any proposed legislation.

The idea is that the answers to the questions should define the objective of the new law, if it is fair, who is affected, the winners and losers and its long-term impact.

Mr Prentice said: "It is time the Labour party recalibrated what it is doing. The National Policy Forum is deliberative policy making and I want to roll up my sleeves and get involved."

The MP's stand in opposing benefit cuts to lone parents cost him his government job. He has had hundreds of letters of support.

He added: "I have written a letter to the Pendle Labour Party saying I feel that I feel the party needs to recalibrate itself if it is to keep the support of the majority of the country.

"This Labour government has done a tremendous amount so far: getting welfare to work up and running, financed by the windfall tax, and putting £1 billion into education and extra into the NHS.

"The minimum wage should come in by Spring 1999, and that will make a tremendous difference."

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