The anti-sleaze candidate of Tatton, Martin Bell, is preparing to fight for the parliamentary seat of Brentwood and Ongar.

And in a political exclusive for the Brentwood Gazette, he has outlined why he’s changing seats. The rest of the four-page feature is made up of a political commentary and an analysis of the main players in the constituency.

Bell has been labelled a predator by one of his opponents as he prepares to stand as an Independent candidate at the General Election next year.

Some local feeling has been voiced that the sitting Tory MP Eric Pickles has done nothing to deserve this high-profile challenge – and that Martin Bell has no valid issue on which to fight.

But Bell told the Gazette: “A few of the comments in the press surprised me.

“The debate is only just beginning and it would be better off without the habit of speaking ill of others.”

He said the result of the next election was more predictable than at any time since 1983 – but he hoped the Labour majority would not be as high.

He said: “It can be argued that one more or less Conservative MP will not make much difference. The same applies to one more or less Labour MP, and even – in view of their enlarged representation – to one more or less Liberal Democrat.

“But if I go through with this, it will be for the people of Brentwood and Ongar to determine if there will be one independent Member in the House of Commons or none at all.”

He promised the campaign would be a “showpiece of democracy”.

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