David Kirwan

PROSPECTIVE Independent MP for Wirral West David Kirwan today welcomed TV presenter Esther Rantzen’s decision to stand as a fellow Independent at the General Election.

Broadcaster Esther Rantzen caused a stir when she visited Luton to officially announce she intends to stand as an MP.

The That’s Life star plans to stand as an independent candidate in the next election as MP for Luton South.

She originally announced her intentions to stand against Labour MP Margaret Moran in the wake of the expenses scandal when it emerged the MP claimed £22,500 to treat dry rot at a property in Southampton - 100 miles away from her constituency.

Mrs Moran has since announced she will not defend her 5,650 majority at the next General Election but Ms Rantzen today said her decision to stand was more than a protest, but a “glimpse of a vocation”.

David, who was the first candidate to announce he was standing as an Independent candidate at the height of the Expenses Scandal, said today: “I am delighted to hear that Esther has thrown her hat into the ring as a genuinely Independent candidate. Like me, she has clearly given a lot of consideration before making a final decision.

“I continue to receive fantastic support and good wishes everywhere I go in the Wirral West constituency and would be delighted to welcome Esther to the Wirral to explain more about how our campaign is going and to share ideas.

“The mainstream parties may feel that they have ridden the storm of the Expenses Scandal, but I can tell them that the voters remain incredibly angry.

“I am also finding that other issues I am campaigning on such as the need to pull our troops out of Afghanistan and the continuing fall-out from the economic crisis in terms of job losses are striking a chord with voters.

“It is only genuinely Independent candidates such as myself and Esther Rantzen who have the ability to bring about real change in Westminster.”