Comedian Al Murray, known as the pub landlord, has pledged to stand against Nigel Farage in the South Thanet constituency at the General Election. In his launch video Oxford educated Murray claimed his policies included “fighting Germany, if they are up for it” and ending tensions between North and South… Thanet.
Other policies include making Alex Salmond the First Minister for Norwich, so “he knows what it is really like to be ignored by the rest of the country”. And to make the British pound worth £1.10, “so it will be worth 10p more”. He also pledges to stop immigration by bricking up the Channel Tunnel and making the country “a bit worse” so people will not want to come.
Despite the jokey video Murray is said to be serious about standing for the Free the UK Party (FUKP). He claims to be like other “parliamentary hopefuls” in “not knowing where Thanet is” but he goes on to claim “that didn’t stop Maggie saving the Falklands”.
In order to run he only needs 10 members of the public in South Thanet to sign their support plus a £500 deposit. Creating a political party is a little more tricky and involves registering with the Electoral Commission.
Nigel Farage responded by saying “the more the merrier”, whilst a UKIP spokesman said: “At last, serious competition in the constituency.”