Rules should be changed

The voters of Wombourne seem a little weary of the electoral process, but they give Sir Patrick a warm reception as he visits a local butcher's shop and tours the village in his Range Rover with his megaphone.

Sir Patrick feels strongly that the rules should be changed to prevent such a marathon contest in future, in the event of a candidate dying.

He argues that, under the current rules, people who are "terminally ill" or suicidal could stand against the prime minister or leader of the opposition to "make a point", potentially provoking a "constitutional crisis".

He seems particularly irked that the delayed contest has attracted a host of fringe candidates not on the original ballot paper, such as newspaper columnist Garry Bushell, standing for the English Democrats, Adrian Davies, of the right wing Freedom Party and The Rev David Oswald Braid, of Clause 28, Children's Protection Christian Democrats.


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