Martin Bell closes in on European seat

Martin Bell, former BBC war correspondent and anti-sleaze MP, is within striking distance of winning a seat in the European Parliament after gaining the support of a string of celebrities including Starsky and Hutch.

Martin Bell, former BBC war correspondent and anti-sleaze MP, is within striking distance of winning a seat in the European Parliament after gaining the support of a string of celebrities including Starsky and Hutch.

Mr Bell, who is standing as an independent on an anti-corruption ticket, is on course to defy the polls and win a seat in the Eastern region of Britain.

The former MP for Tatton, who opposed the war on Iraq, is picking up a good deal of support in Suffolk, and from Norfolk, where Mr Bell is from.

Among his supporters are David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser, who played Starsky and Hutch in the Seventies series, and Terry Waite, the former Beirut hostage. He also has the backing of the regional paper the Eastern Daily Press, which is concerned that too few of the MEPs representing the region are from the area. Ladbrokes has placed a £500 charity bet that Mr Bell will win a seat. The odds are 3/1 and, if he succeeds, the winnings will be donated to Unicef.

Mr Bell's election would be a major upset for the main political parties. He has spent £800 on his campaign. He says he wants reform of the "Sign on, Sod Off" system in the European Parliament which allowed MEPs to claim expenses for turning up.