Letters to North MPs reveal "official" date of British election

TWO NI MPs have received what appears to be official confirmation that the British general election will be on May 1st.

The date was printed in a letter from the North's chief electoral officer, Mr Pat Bradley, which details proposed polling stations in each of the MPs' constituencies. But Mr Bradley attempted to quash resultant speculation last night, saying the use of the date on the documents was a simple mistake.

Mr Joe Hendron, the SDLP MP for West Belfast, received the letter on Saturday. He said it was not until he was discussing the forthcoming election with colleagues before a radio interview yesterday that he realised it might be unusual.

"I thought the date for the election would be common knowledge and that all other MPs had had notification," he said. "There is no doubt in my mind now that the government has decided on May 1st for the election, has told the electoral officers and they have let it slip."

The DUP's Mr Peter Robinson, who also received the document, said he had not paid it much heed" because "I didn't think the Northern Ireland Chief Electoral Officer had the ear of the Prime Minister."

"Sources at the Northern Ireland Office declined to comment, except to say that to, their knowledge, no date for a general election had been fixed.

Dr Hendron added: "I don't know how many other MPs have received this but I cannot believe we are the only ones. It really is an extraordinary gaffe."

The British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, has made no secret of the fact that May 1st is his preferred polling day, but a Conservative Central Office spokesman said last night it was for Mr Major alone to say when the election would be held.