Shortly after I posted my British politics update last night, I read about this man, Reg Keys, who is running against Tony Blair in his own district (as an Independent candidate). Who is Reg Keys, and does he have a chance of taking down a sitting Prime Minister?
Link: Reg Keys for Sedgefield Campaign.
"The last time I saw my son, Tom, was at a railway station when he marched off down the platform with his head held high, proud to do his duty for his country.
"He believed what he was told. But the Prime Minister misled the country, and Tom and eighty four other soldiers who had their oath of allegiance betrayed came home in coffins - having died for a lie.
"Its time to bring accountability back into British politics.
Reg Keys lost his son in Iraq. Now he's running against the man who sent him there. He's got no political experience, but his campaign is starting to look like it's got legs.
One Labour executive from the district, Derek Cattell, has resigned in protest and supports Reg Keys. Another candidate for the seat, David Shayler, has stopped his campaign and thrown his support to Reg Keys. Brian Eno, formerly of Roxy Music and U2 guru, is also a supporter. (Oddly enough, Labour has been using the U2 song "A Beautiful Day" at their rallies.) If I had any idea where Sedgefield was, I'd go there and help this guy out myself.
Interestingly, if Sedgefield votes Tony out, Gordon Brown will be the new Labour leader. Most voters would prefer that, so in a weird way, they'd be doing Labour a favor.
Can he actually win? I don't know, but I'll be watching this closely. And so, I hope, will Tony Blair.
