THE fact David Van Day has even suggested standing as an independent parliamentary candidate for Mid Beds is simply ludicrous. During an exclusive interview with The Comet last week, the former Dollar singer freely said: I must admit I know nothing about

THE fact David Van Day has even suggested standing as an independent parliamentary candidate for Mid Beds is simply ludicrous.

During an exclusive interview with The Comet last week, the former Dollar singer freely said: "I must admit I know nothing about Mid Beds."

Why on earth, then, should he think people living in Mid Beds would be inclined to vote for him? There are already enough MPs in the House of Commons who fail to identify with the constituents they represent - we certainly don't need another to add to the clearly clueless bunch.

Having failed to propel himself back into the media spotlight with ITV1's Reborn in the USA or I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! I expect he thought a wild grab at the limelight by way of the expenses scandal was worth a whirl.

But when Van Day vows he would claim no expenses if he was Mid Beds' MP, the old adage 'you get what you pay for' springs to mind.

I AM astounded that neither the Queen nor any other member of the royal family will be attending D-Day commemorations in France this week.

No royals will go because they have not received an official invitation, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

But French officials have insisted the UK Government is responsible for deciding who should attend the ceremony.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown will represent the UK in Normandy on Saturday, 65 years on from the landings that helped defeat Hitler's Germany.

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace told a national newspaper: "We are content with all the arrangements that are planned." Well, I'm sure I speak for many when I say that I am not content, and I am angered that they are.

The royal family should make it their business to attend the event, formal invitation or not.

Protocol, aloofness, pride - whatever the reasons for effectively snubbing the occasion, they are quite simply not good enough.

An opportunity to commemorate those who put their lives on the line for this country should not be so readily dismissed.