Martin Bell targets the East Midlands?
The former war reporter Martin Bell has told me some of his battle plans to field independent candidates in the East Midlands for the general election. The man in the white suit who became an independent MP has his sights set on at least three constituencies.
They are held by some of the region's best known politicians.
The TV celebrity Esther Rantzen is to stand as an independent in Luton South. But Martin Bell rules out parachuting a celebrity into the East Midlands.
So should Labour's Keith Vaz, Alan Meale and the Tory maverick Alan Duncan be worried? After all, all three had some explaining to do in the recent scandal over MPs' expenses. Martin Bell told me:
"We are looking for candidates who are trusted and well known in their own communities. Richard Taylor did it in Wyre Forest. So why can't it also happen in Mansfield, Leicester East and Melton and Rutland?"
Mansfield already has an independent candidate selected. But Martin Bell admits finding independent-minded people prepared to stand is not so easy.
"We had a promising candidate to take on Alan Duncan in Melton and Rutland, but he changed his mind."
Martin Bell isn't planning to stand himself. But if you spot the white suit in the East Midlands in the coming weeks, he may be in search of candidates.
Hello. My name is John Hess. I'm the BBC's Political Editor for the East Midlands and this blog will offer my musings on the political scene from Westminster to closer to home. 
