IWAS tickled pink by your front page story (LET, July 16), telling of Councillor Marcus Johnstone's pledge not to accept the 26 per cent pay rise if he is elected as MP for Ribble Valley.

Since his chances of electoral success are considerably lower than the prospects of the proverbial snowball in hell, his gesture can scarcely be rated as one of the great political sacrifices of our time.

But although Coun Johnstone's offer can be regarded as purely theoretical, the same is clearly not true of the non-acceptance promises of Nigel Evans and Gordon Prentice.

I warmly applaud both these gentlemen for refusing to guzzle at the financial trough with the great majority of their fellow MPs.

HARRY BROOKS, Independent Member, Burnley Borough Council, Bouldsworth Road, Burnley.

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