Gemma Garrett says voters should take her seriously

Beauty queen Gemma Garrett says voters should take her seriously in her bid to become the next MP for Haltemprice and Howden.

The 26-year-old glamour model is standing for the Miss Great Britain Party against David Davis in the by-election.

Having won the Miss Great Britain title earlier this year, she is now aiming for a seat in Westminster.

Launching her campaign in the same hotel where Mr Davis had formally opened his own campaign an hour earlier, she arrived fashionably late but with a perfect excuse.

“We drove up here overnight and I only got to bed at 6am. Trust me, I didn't look like a beauty queen an hour ago!” she joked.

Clutching a designer Union Jack handbag bought by a friend in New York, she quickly got into her stride.

She said: “Some people might think it's a joke but I'm deadly serious about standing.
“When I won Miss Great Britain I was determined not to be classed as just another beauty queen with no real opinions of my own. I wanted to make a difference.

“That's why I stood in the Crewe by-election and that's why I'm here in Haltemprice and Howden.”

Although no one in her family is into politics, she says her upbringing in Belfast taught her to speak her mind.

“I've never been afraid of putting my opinions across, it's something I've always done,” she said.

“I don't agree with the reason behind this by-election. David Davis should never have resigned, he should have stood up for himself in Parliament.

“I also think there are more important issues to talk about than just 42-day detention.

“My big passion is how our soldiers are being treated by the Government. I've got two cousins who have been to Iraq and Afghanistan and the stories I've heard from them are frightening.

“We should be talking about how we can improve their pay and their equipment, not worrying about CCTV.”

Miss Garrett now intends to squeeze visits to as many towns and villages in the constituency as she can between modelling assignments.

However, she will miss the final Sunday of the campaign as she is the official face of the British Grand Prix.

Posing in a figure-hugging dress and Miss GB tiara outside a hotel in Willerby, she said: “I don't really know the area, but I'm looking forward to meeting as many people as I can. I've already met David Davis and he seems very nice.

“When people meet me and I get talking to them they soon realise I'm not just a stereotypical lads mag model.”

The Miss Great Britain Party, a political arm of the Miss Great Britain competition, had two candidates in the Henley by-election.

With each by-election comes plenty of publicity for the party’s candidates, in addition to that generated by the competition.

Although, those wanting to know more about their policies can view details under a special “political party” section on the competition’s website.

The party’s manifesto includes ensuring a better deal for mothers who take time off work to have children and a compulsory health and beauty education to improve the looks of Britons.
From: this is hull and east riding