GREG Pope reckons his religious connections will give him a head start in the next general election.

The Hyndburn MP's name will appear on the ballot paper surname first, with the Labour man therefore known as - Pope Gregory!

And the MP thinks that his strongly Catholic constituency will love his holy nickname.

He said: "Hyndburn is one of the most Catholic constituencies in the country so I think the name-change might go down quite well.

"In fact, the constituency rival at the last elections, Ken Hargreaves, is also a Catholic. We went to the same school."

But his holy title has not always been so beneficial.

When he was appointed Shadow Northern Ireland Whip, the title startled some the Ulster Unionists.

"I think it was quite a shock to Ian Paisley to find he had to speak with someone called Pope Gregory. But he's very nice to me. The name on the election ballot certainly makes a lasting impression."

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