Darren Gough spoke to David Cameron about becoming MP
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Your support makes all the difference.David Cameron phoned cricket star Darren Gough to talk to him about becoming a Conservative MP, it was revealed today.
Barnsley-born Gough had spoken to local Tories about the possibility of fighting an upcoming by-election in the town, and the Prime Minister called him to say he thought it was a great idea.
But the former Yorkshire and England star, who won TV's Strictly Come Dancing in 2005, decided that his other commitments made him too busy to be an MP.
Instead he will campaign for the Conservatives in the March 3 by-election in Barnsley Central, triggered by the resignation of former Labour MP Eric Illsley, who faces sentencing today for fiddling parliamentary expenses.
Conservatives have no real prospect of winning the safe Labour seat, but a high-profile candidate like Gough could have helped them put a dent in the massive 11,093 majority secured by Mr Illsley at last year's General Election.
A Tory spokesman said: "We are delighted that Darren will be campaigning for the Conservatives during the by-election, but his other commitments meant he can't actually be the candidate."
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