Terry Waite mulls MP bid
By politics.co.uk staff
Former Beirut hostage Terry Waite is considering whether to run for parliament as an independent.
He is just the latest in a long line of celebrities and high-profile figures considering a move in the wake of the expenses scandal.
Former That’s Life presenter Esther Rantzen has said she will stand against Labour MP Margaret Moran if she does not stand down.
Telegraph columnist Simon Heffer plans to run against Conservative MP Sir Alan Haselhurst if he doesn’t apologise for his expenses.
And Martin Bell, the white-suited journalist who ran successfully on an anti-sleaze platform in 1997 against Neil Hamilton, is still considering another run for parliament.
“Reform is in the air,” Mr Waite, who spent four years as a captive in Lebanon, told the BBC.
“The party system has to be shaken up and radically overhauled.
“A handful of strong independent MPs could valuably assist the reform process,” he added.
