The Citizen reported (19/8/03) that Cheltenham's MP, Nigel Jones, has just won an award for signing 1,242 Parliamentary Early Day Motions in seven months. However I have to wonder if he has been reading what he signs.

First he supports a Labour MPs motion calling for the fluoridation of water. Then he signs a motion arguing that "the addition of medicines to public water supplies is a breach of fundamental human rights" and we should reject "any proposals to amend legislation to permit the addition of fluoride to public water supplies."

Politicians are notorious for wanting to be all things to all, but this takes things further than most. Where does he stand?

The Green Party are in full agreement with the second motion. No one should be medicated without their consent.

The fluoride that Blair hopes to add to our water is a toxic waste from the fertiliser industry full of impurities not found in pharmaceutical grade fluoride. Amazingly it has never been safety-tested for human consumption. Over 40,000 studies on fluorides point to serious health risks. Most countries have stopped fluoridation as they found no benefits. Indeed rates of decay have not risen, but continued to decline in those countries.

Most of us already receive optimal levels of fluoride in the foods we eat. Tooth decay is caused by too much sugar and poor teeth care. Fluoridation does not address either of these.

Philip Booth, Gloucestershire Green Party.