THE General Election might not be declared yet, but sitting MP David Curry again faces a battle against his anti-European critics.

This week the Democracy Movement has put out a tabloid sized leaflet attacking Mr Curry declaring that he "wants to scrap the pound". Promising the leaflet will be delivered to every home in the constituency, the movement urges voters not to return him to Parliament.

And the Herald can reveal that Nancy Holdsworth, who stood against him in the last election, will be a fourth candidate, standing for the anti-Europe UK Independence Party.

The sitting MP is attacked by the Democracy Movement as "a fanatical supporter of further EU integration who believes European Union law should override law made in the UK".

It goes on to declare: "If you want to keep the pound, do not vote for David Curry at the general election."

Mrs Holdsworth stood last time for the Referendum Party, which was financed by the late Sir James Goldsmith, whose widow is the president of the Democracy Movement.

Since polling 3,212 votes in the 1997 election, housewife Mrs Holdsworth has posed naked for a Rylstone WI-type calendar for Breast Cancer charities.

She was suffering from cancer at the time of the last election but happily has made a full recovery.

"I was asked to stand by the UKIP and I said only if I agreed with their manifesto. Well I read it and I could have written it myself," said Mrs Holdsworth.

She said she was standing because all three candidates in Skipton had almost identical views on Europe and she wanted to give an alternative.

Mr Curry hit back at the personal attack in the Democracy Movement campaign which he said had "the oversimplification and caricature of a cartoon horror story".

In a statement to the Herald he said: "I am very sorry that the 'Democracy Movement' has chosen to launch a personal attack upon me. It admits its sole purpose is to persuade people not to vote for me because of my views on Europe. It refers to no other candidate.

"I also regret that the campaign depicts Europe - and my views - with all the oversimplification and caricature of a cartoon horror story.

"It makes no attempt to hold a mature and balanced debate about Britain's place in Europe and offers no alternative whatsoever. I am described as a 'fanatic.' Yet the true fanatics are the single-issue parties for which there is only ever one point of view and for whom anyone with a different opinion is virtually a traitor.

"My views on Europe are well known. I have always been willing to explain and defend them in constructive debate. I am ready to do so again in the election campaign.

"I have never attacked opponents in my own election material believing that I should set out my ideas not denigrate other people's. It is sad that the entire 'Democracy Movement' campaign is apparently to be based on a direct attack upon me.

"Ironically the 'Democracy Movement' is much more obsessed with Europe than I am. I invite voters to look at my record and see what issues take the overwhelming part of my energy.

"They will discover the commitment to helping farmers and rural businesses (never so much as with the foot and mouth disease epidemic); working with local authorities on issues like housing, transport and social services; campaigning with headteachers for better facilities and opportunities in schools and colleges; co-operating with doctors and local hospitals to ensure the best care for local people; and dealing with the thousands of individual problems brought to me in my surgeries.

"I am content to be judged on my record in dealing with all the complex issues that come to an MP and in standing up for my own opinions so that people can never say that they do not know where I stand."

Labour candidate Michael Dugher has already vowed not to indulge on personal attacks on Mr Curry and, like his Conservative opponent, is a member of the same Britain in Europe campaign.

This week he said: "David Curry's position on the euro is well known. Labour will be fighting the campaign in Skipton on local issues and the fact that the Government has delivered the lowest inflation, mortgage rates and unemployment for more than 30 years."

If a general election is called on June 7, voters in the Skipton South ward will be faced with three ballot papers.

As well as voting in the General Election and North Yorkshire County Council elections, they will be asked to choose a district councillor in succession to the late Beryl Beresford.

Nominations for the postponed county council elections, which should have taken place yesterday (Thursday), will go forward and additional candidates have until May 10 to declare their candidacy for the June 7 poll.