Royle family actor mulls MP bid

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/merseyside/8500319.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Liverpool actor and Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson could make a bid for parliament in the general election.

The veteran actor, 70, is considering standing in the Liverpool Wavertree ward in protest at Labour's selection Luciana Berger, a Londoner.

Ms Berger, 28, will fight the seat vacated by current Labour MP, Jane Kennedy, who is stepping down.

If Mr Tomlinson does decide to stand, the actor wants to represent the Socialist Labour Party.

The former trade union activist is already member of the party, led by Arthur Scargill, former president of the National Union of Mineworkers.

Ms Berger, who moved to Liverpool last year, has faced local criticism for her perceived lack of knowledge of the area.

'Not working class'

Mr Tomlinson confirmed his interest in the role in a brief conversation with the BBC's North West Political Editor, Arif Ansari.

"He clearly feels that Luciana Berger is somebody who has been parachuted in from London, that she is somebody who doesn't understand Liverpool properly and that she's not working class," said Mr Ansari.

Mr Tomlinson has put his name forward to the Socialist Labour Party, which is expected to meet in the next 10 days.

Members will then decide whether or not to back him as a candidate.

The actor is not the first celebrity to consider standing as a Member of Parliament.

Last year, television presenter Esther Rantzen revealed plans to stand in the Luton South ward in the wake of the MP expenses scandal.