IT would be fascinating merely to sit back and watch developments in the Forest Harper saga were it not so serious.

The Forest's MP has a variety of options, prominent among these are (a) to back the government line, (b) to bend to the views of his constituents, (c) to jump into the river Severn.

It is the tendency of many MPs who owe allegiance to a political party to put the party first because without the party they would not be in parliament anyway.

To be fair to Mark Harper he makes no pretence of being a cut above the norm. Indeed when I contacted him some months back on an NHS matter the reply I received more or less echoed that which I had from Whitehall itself.

On the NHS/health matters in general I find it appalling that so many of our masters are so little informed as to what happens outside this little island and can be astounded to learn that one of our continental neighbours has cut costs by reducing cross infection, recovery times, re-admissions by simply abolishing hospital wards and substituting individual accommodation. In Britain, years ago, Blair undertook to abolish 'mixed' wards but failed.

The 'expenses' scandal would seem to indicate that some MPs are there simply for the money. The poor quality of our MPs is due in part to the fact that they are not trained for the job. In France political high-fliers go through a three year course in admin, finance and law at the Ecole National d'Administration.

I feel that some of our MPs who travel abroad on 'fact finding trips' may well delve into matters of cuisine and liquid sustenance but little else. And of course the lords/lordesses have little to fear from the electorate.

For the moment Mark Harper has bought time.?I predict that he will follow the government line. If he proves me wrong I will willingly give him five bob in compensation for hurt feelings.

– B.W. Wheeler, High Street, Newnham.