Portishead businessman hopes to become MEP

A Portishead businessman who led the campaign to save the town's open air pool from closure is to stand for election to the European Parliament.

Roger Whitfield, chairman of the Portishead Pool Community Trust and leader of the Save the Open Air Pool (STOP) campaign, which was backed by the Post, is a prospective candidate of a new political party, The Jury Team.

It is planning to field 70 candidates in June's European elections on an anti-political party platform. It intends to select independent candidates for each region, chosen by a text-message voting system, to offer an alternative to what it describes as the "lobby-fodder" of traditional political parties.

Mr Whitfield, 43, who has previously stood for election for Labour, said he put his name forward because he was disillusioned with the main political parties. He will be one of six MEPs who will represent the South West if he is selected as a candidate by members of the public and has set up a campaign blog at rogerwhitfield.co.uk.

Mr Whitfield, who runs Nortech Computers in the town, said: "I am standing because, like many people, I feel let down by politicians and the party system.

"I've always put my money where my mouth is and feel I can make a difference. While I have previously represented the Labour Party, I do agree with some elements of Conservative policy but feel the party whip system is undemocratic. I'd like to see more transparency and honesty return to politics and I think it is time for a change. People are sick and tired of politicians looking out for themselves instead of looking after the people that elected them. But to make effective change you have to do it from within."

The system Jury Team is using to select its candidates is based on the American Primary system. Prospective candidates have signed up to its website and will take part in "Open Primaries", with the public texting their preferences.

The party, founded by Sir Paul Judge, has been backed by the former independent MP for Tatton Martin Bell. The party believes it is the first political movement in the world to select its candidates by text voting, something it says is direct democracy in action.

If you wish to vote for Mr Whitfield as a candidate text ROGWHI01 to 86837 by the end of April. Texts cost 25p plus the usual network rate.