Smeato to stand for Parliament
26.09.09
John Smeaton, the former baggage handler who helped tackle two suicide bombers at Glasgow Airport in 2007, said yesterday that he will contest the parliamentary seat vacated by the ex-Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin. He has the backing of the Jury Team, a political movement launched in March by individuals who are against the current party political system.
Smeato won a gallantry medal from the Queen, plaudits from Prime Minister Gordon Brown and international fame after he helped police when two suicide bombers smashed a jeep loaded with fuel and gas canisters into the airport's entrance. He said his decision to stand as an independent candidate for Glasgow North East had been motivated by his anger over MPs' expenses and the domination of the party political system.
He said in an online broadcast yesterday that he had read with disbelief the level and extent of expense claims made by some MPs. He added: ‘I just think in politics now, we the ordinary working people have been taken advantage of by politicians, especially by the political elite. Rather than politicians voting for what they believe in, they vote for what the party tells them, and I think that is wrong.’
Former Speaker Martin became the first speaker in 300 years to be forced out of office in June over his handling of the MPs' expenses scandal. If elected, John said he was going to ‘knock down doors [in Westminster] and make politicians responsible for what they do.’ He will face candidates from all of the main political parties.
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