National Front announced its candidate

HARTLEPOOL MAIL

The National Front have announced its candidate for the Hartlepool by-election will be former soldier Jim Starkey.

National Front spokesman, Steve Rowland, said Mr Starkey, 54, was originally from Sunderland but after 22 years in the army now lives in Oxfordshire. He contested the Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election last month and polled 805 votes.

The British National Party are deliberating whether or not to stand in the by-election.

The candidates so far named for the by-election include Iain Wright (Labour), Jody Dunn (Liberal Democrat), the Rev Richard Rodgers (the Common Good Party), John Bloom (Respect), Stephen Allison (UKIP).

Gus Robinson, the Conservative candidate at the last general election, is also considering standing as an Independent.

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