I'd like to add another pint to that which is to be granted to the first of the nominees to admit they voted for White Hare.

The fact is that a number of those people have a vested interest in seeing "their" artists succeed. And there are so many linkages between people it would be very hard to avoid vested interests .

"Apologies if it sounds like I'm defending Smooth Ops. I disagree with their decision to include a newly written song in the trad song category. But I do think that there isn't a better practical way of running the awards".

I accept that you are not defending Smooth Ops but you are defending the system which you admit to having a vote and an interest in. I am not convinced there is much difference.

There has to be a better way of running a system which arrives at a self-penned song winning in a category for a traditional track when there is a perfectly good category for it elsewhere in the awards.

Would you be kind enough to tell us if you recgnised this as a self- penned song; pointed out to Smooth Ops that this was a self-penned song; and if so what their reaction was?

Finally the more is revealed about this the more it stinks.

Frankly if it walks like a fix, talks like a fix and in this case smells like a fix - then the chances are it is a fix.

And if you honestly believe that this sort of thing acts as a gateway - that is your judgment and I can do no other than respect it. But I most certainly do not have to agree with it.......................

Finally I am happy to put my full name to my postings. I think it is about time in this most contentious of arguments others do the same.

Dave Eyre