Cynthia Payne, interviewed in Part One, photographed with Screaming Lord Sutch, Leader of the Monster Raving Loony Party, in 1990

What drives and inspires the small parties on the fringe of the political big-time?

In a Sunday Supplement series for The Westminster Hour in December 2003 and January 2004, the former Conservative MP and now political commentator Matthew Parris investigated the 'other candidates'.

In his first piece, Matthew Parris looks at the contenders with sex on their mind - from Cynthia Payne through to the rather more conventional Northern Ireland Women's Coalition, which has had success.

Click here to listen to Part One of The Other Candidates are ....

In his second feature, Matthew's theme is revolution.

Click here to listen to Part Two of The Other Candidates are ....

In his third and final piece, Matthew Parris turns his attention to parties built on religion, faiths or belief.

Click here to listen to Part Three of The Other Candidates are ....