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Tatchell to stand for Green Party | Tatchell to stand for Green Party |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Veteran gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell is to stand as a Green Party candidate at the next general election. | Veteran gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell is to stand as a Green Party candidate at the next general election. |
Mr Tatchell, who as a Labour candidate in 1983 fought the infamous Bermondsey by-election, will contest Oxford East, which is held by Labour's Andrew Smith. | Mr Tatchell, who as a Labour candidate in 1983 fought the infamous Bermondsey by-election, will contest Oxford East, which is held by Labour's Andrew Smith. |
The man who once tried to arrest Robert Mugabe promised "the same determination to fight hard for Oxford East". | The man who once tried to arrest Robert Mugabe promised "the same determination to fight hard for Oxford East". |
Green Party principal speaker Derek Wall said: "He is going to raise the game for the whole party." | Green Party principal speaker Derek Wall said: "He is going to raise the game for the whole party." |
He added: "I think his selection will be seen as a real turning point, making the party more serious, more professional and more focused on issues of justice." | He added: "I think his selection will be seen as a real turning point, making the party more serious, more professional and more focused on issues of justice." |
The Green Party has never had anyone elected to the House of Commons, but has one peer in the House of Lords and two European Parliament Members. | The Green Party has never had anyone elected to the House of Commons, but has one peer in the House of Lords and two European Parliament Members. |
Part-time resident | Part-time resident |
Mr Tatchell said: "The people of Oxford have an opportunity to make history by electing Britain's first Green MP." | Mr Tatchell said: "The people of Oxford have an opportunity to make history by electing Britain's first Green MP." |
He added: "I plan to start living part-time in the constituency and to get immersed in local community campaigns." | He added: "I plan to start living part-time in the constituency and to get immersed in local community campaigns." |
He warned that he would not be "bossed around by the party whips" but be an "independent-minded" Green MP. | He warned that he would not be "bossed around by the party whips" but be an "independent-minded" Green MP. |
Mr Tatchell, who has supported the Green Party since 1988, contested the Bermondsey by-election in 1983 for Labour. | Mr Tatchell, who has supported the Green Party since 1988, contested the Bermondsey by-election in 1983 for Labour. |
He lost to Liberal Simon Hughes in a bitter battle in which there were accusations of homophobia, after the Liberals used the term a "straight choice". | |
At the last General Election in Oxford East Labour won with 36.9% of the vote, the Lib Dems were second on 34.6% with the Conservatives getting 16.7% and the Greens in fourth place on 4.3%. |
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