Frank Cook - Independent - Stockton North

Unlike most independents in this election, Frank Cook is a sitting MP standing for re-election. The difference this time is that he will not be fighting under the Labour Party banner, New or Old. He has now quit the party, saying Labour is "no longer the party I joined in 1950". That is stating the bleedin' obvious Frank! It's amazing it took him so long to realise this. I get the impression some Labour MPs allowed Mandelson and the Gang to hypnotise them good and proper. Rather like the Little Britain character, Kenny Craig, "Look into my eyes, not around the eyes...."

How many will be hypnotised this time round?

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Nikki Sinclaire - SAMRA - Meriden

Caroline Spelman is the excellent Conservative MP and candidate for Meriden. This constituency covers half the Solihull Borough area and takes its name from the village of Meriden. Actually this parish is only a very small part of the constituency. Into the fray comes Nikki Sinclaire, West Midlands MEP, who had been selected as UKIP candidate but fell out with the leadership over its grouping arrangements in the European Parliament. Ms Sinclaire is now standing as the candidate for SAMRA or the Solihull and Meriden Residents Association. She has told the local paper, Solihull Observer, where a full scale advertising blitz is underway, that she will spend £20,000 plus on trying to get Caroline Spelman ejected. A tall order I'd say, but worth the money if second place is not to be sniffed at.

SAMRA will contest all 17 ward seats on the borough council and this will prove an additional excitement to the local campaign.

I give Nikki Sinclaire's Campaign Site a Voter Friendly 5/10 for Election Information.

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Unionist 'unity' candidate agreed in Fermanagh

The DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) and Ulster Conservatives and Unionists (UCU) have agreed on running a joint unionist candidate in Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Rodney Connor, a former chief executive of Fermanagh District Council, will stand as an independent. However, he has agreed to accept the Conservative whip if elected.

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