The following is a press release by Roy Bailey, which is also on his web site, and which deserves the fullest possible dissemination:

"As a life-long supporter of the Labour Party I am so appalled at the Government's foreign policy that I have decided to return the MBE I was awarded in the Millennium Honours List for "services to folk music". I can think of no better way for me, lawfully, to express my horror and opposition to our failure to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Lebanon and to our complicity with the USA's policy of supporting Israel's actions in Palestine.

Tony Blair's support for the policies of the USA is for me a betrayal of all I took the Labour Party to stand for. The death and destruction on all sides and the chaos in both Iraq and Afghanistan is the result of such decisions. The Parliamentary and Labour Constituency Parties, by remaining supportive of these policies, are discredited as far as I am concerned.

I am not so foolish as to expect any government to be able to deliver all its manifesto promises. I understand and accept that compromises have to be made. However, when it comes to waging an illegal war in Iraq, the killing of innocent people in Afghanistan, Palestine, Iraq and now, the Lebanon, I can no longer accept as an "honour" a recommendation supported by the Prime Minister, that I be awarded the MBE.

Tony Blair insists his decisions are in support of democracy. We cannot bomb people into accepting democracy any more than we could slaughter people into accepting Christianity.

I understand many people within the folk music community have applauded such awards as a welcomed recognition of the contribution folk music dance and song) makes to our common culture. I trust they will understand my reasons for now rejecting and returning that award."