Journalist-turned-politician Martin Bell is to return to the hustings - after being persuaded to stand for the European Parliament by the Eastern Daily Press.

He is crediting the morning newspaper with offering the support he needed to get back in the political front line.

The former BBC broadcaster and MP for Tatton was persuaded to return to active politics after an approach from the EDP.

The paper had known since before Christmas that there was a good chance Martin would stand, and the combination of a "good cause and an exciting challenge" proved too hard for him to resist.

It has also secured a promise from him to return to live in the area - where he was born and brought up - if he is elected.

He said: "I am standing with the support of this great newspaper for which my father, Adrian Bell, wrote his remarkable weekly columns for 30 years.

"But the campaign is independent of the newspaper."

He says the election campaign is his and not the paper's, and that he will make it the "cheapest winning campaign".

He also expects to disagree with the EDP on some issues. The two partners already hold differing views on the war with Iraq, which he opposes and the paper backed.

But both the newspaper and its candidate are appalled at the lack of electoral interest from its patch, and with the lack of EU activity in the area. The EDP is fully backing Martin in his stand against the political system in a bid to secure what he sees as "full and proper" representation in Europe for the people of Norfolk and Suffolk.

According to the paper, he regards himself as a "mild eurosceptic" and wants to get into Brussels ands Strasbourg to remind key players what they must do to revive faith in the Euro parliament.

He said: "We are united in our determination to strike a blow for democracy in East Anglia."

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