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Smeaton pledges to 'badger' MPs Smeaton pledges to 'badger' MPs
(about 3 hours later)
One of the men who helped foil the Glasgow Airport terror attack is to stand as an independent candidate in a Westminster by-election.One of the men who helped foil the Glasgow Airport terror attack is to stand as an independent candidate in a Westminster by-election.
John Smeaton said he would fight the Glasgow North East seat vacated by former Commons Speaker Michael Martin.John Smeaton said he would fight the Glasgow North East seat vacated by former Commons Speaker Michael Martin.
He urged people to "vote for change or stop complaining". During a news conference in a Glasgow hotel he pledged to "badger" MPs and "bring a storm down on Westminster".
At his first election press conference in a Glasgow hotel he pledged to "badger" MPs and "bring a storm down on Westminster" if elected. The former baggage handler struggled to answer questions about the Jury Team which is funding his campaign.
"The Labour Party have had 30 years to bring investment and jobs into Glasgow North East," he said.
"I haven't noticed much difference and I know from strolling round the constituency that folk living there haven't noticed many changes either.
"Well I can. And, if I'm elected, you'd better believe it: I will. I'll bring a storm down on Westminster, knock down doors and badger them until they listen. No messing."
I'm angry and I'm fed up by the way politicians have been behaving. Like everybody I was shocked by the fiddling by the MPs John Smeaton
Mr Smeaton is the first candidate selected by Jury Team to stand for a seat in the House of Commons.Mr Smeaton is the first candidate selected by Jury Team to stand for a seat in the House of Commons.
Jury Team, which was founded earlier this year by the former director-general of the Conservative Party, Sir Paul Judge, backs independent candidates to public office. Jury Team, which was founded earlier this year by the former director-general of the Conservative Party, Sir Paul Judge, backs independent candidates who stand for public office.
It selected 59 candidates and won about 80,000 votes during this year's European elections.It selected 59 candidates and won about 80,000 votes during this year's European elections.
Speaking about his decision to stand, Mr Smeaton admitted he had never thought he would enter politics. I'm angry and I'm fed up by the way politicians have been behaving. Like everybody I was shocked by the fiddling by the MPs John Smeaton
Speaking at the news conference, Mr Smeaton said: "The Labour Party have had 30 years to bring investment and jobs into Glasgow North East," he said.
"I haven't noticed much difference and I know from strolling round the constituency that folk living there haven't noticed many changes either.
"Well I can. And, if I'm elected, you'd better believe it: I will. I'll bring a storm down on Westminster, knock down doors and badger them until they listen. No messing."
Mr Smeaton admitted he had never thought he would enter politics.
But he said he changed his mind after he was approached by the Jury Team.But he said he changed his mind after he was approached by the Jury Team.
Explaining why he decided to stand, he said: "I'm angry and I'm fed up by the way politicians have been behaving. Like everybody I was shocked by the fiddling by the MPs.Explaining why he decided to stand, he said: "I'm angry and I'm fed up by the way politicians have been behaving. Like everybody I was shocked by the fiddling by the MPs.
'Real difference' 'Expenses greed'
"I reckon most of you shared the same disbelief as we watched them try to excuse their greed over expenses. It really made my blood boil.""I reckon most of you shared the same disbelief as we watched them try to excuse their greed over expenses. It really made my blood boil."
Jury Team spokesman Austin Compton Bradford said Mr Smeaton would "make a real difference" to UK politics. He was asked about a Jury Team proposal that MPs' pay should be linked to the civil service pay scale.
He added: "The candidate is very, very well-known in Glasgow, nationally and internationally. When asked which civil service pay grade it should be linked to, Mr Smeaton said: "I think they should be paid what they are due."
"We are all very tired of the system in parliament where people's voices aren't heard. On supporting a proposal for elected select committees in the House of Commons, he said: "It's something that I've not looked into but I'll look into it and I'll get back to you on that."
"We want to bring the voices of the ordinary person into parliament and get real people who are part of the community to stand." When asked about immigration, he said that "it needs to be looked at" and added that immigrants have done a "fantastic job in this country" but the system "needs to be fairer".
Mr Smeaton will agree to a series of "principles" outlined by Jury Team, which govern standards of behaviour and underline a commitment to the community, Mr Compton Bradford said. Expenses row
When pressed on what's unfair about it, he said: "I just think it needs to be fairer across the board."
And when asked if he had any criminal convictions, Mr Smeaton replied: "I have no convictions."
The by-election, which will happen later this year, was triggered when Mr Martin stood down in June in the wake of the row over MPs expenses.The by-election, which will happen later this year, was triggered when Mr Martin stood down in June in the wake of the row over MPs expenses.
Other candidates who have already been selected to run for the seat include William Bain for Labour, David Kerr for the SNP, Ruth Davidson for the Scottish Conservatives and Eileen Baxendale for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.Other candidates who have already been selected to run for the seat include William Bain for Labour, David Kerr for the SNP, Ruth Davidson for the Scottish Conservatives and Eileen Baxendale for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.