Rantzen gauges future role as MP

The ex-That's Life presenter could stand at the next Westminster elections

Television presenter Esther Rantzen is in a Bedfordshire town to gauge public opinion on whether she should stand as their MP.

Ms Rantzen is visiting Luton after saying she was "sick" of the MPs' expenses scandal and was thinking of standing as an independent in the town.

Her move follows revelations about the expenses of Labour's Luton South MP Margaret Moran in the Daily Telegraph.

She was said to have claimed £22,500 for a second home 100 miles from Luton.

Ms Moran initially defended the claim for dry rot at her Southampton home - but has now repaid the claims.

She said the Commons fees office had approved the claims for the home in the city where her partner had worked for 20 years and said she could not "have a proper family life... unless I share the costs of the Southampton home".

Ms Rantzen said Ms Moran's claims had made her "angry" and said she wanted to stand as an independent against her.

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