SO, of our region's MPs, Jack Straw, Peter Pike and Janet Anderson voted against a three per cent pay rise and, therefore, for an increase which is nine times the inflation rate.

Maybe this bodes well for all workers if Labour become the party of government after the next election.

Surely, none of the three will be so hypocritical as to urge pay restraint on others.

Twenty-six per cent across the board will be welcomed by all those in employment, struggling to make ends meet.

Then, equal treatment for the jobless and pensioners?

DAVE HEATON, (Blackburn and Darwen New Communist Party), Leamington Road, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.