THE Conservative Party has chosen a key military figure to stand in the forthcoming General Election in Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency.
As British military spokesman, former fighter pilot Grp Capt Al Lockwood was the public face of the Armed Forces during the Iraq war, but turned to politics after he left the RAF this year.
Mr Lockwood, 53, was a lastminute choice for the Tories after original choice Danny Kruger stood down because of a remark published in a national newspaper. Mr Lockwood, understood to be "pro-war, but anti-Blair", is campaigning on tax, education and crime issues.
Bill Brown, a 75-year-old property developer, is expected to be confirmed in the next week as the UK Independence Party's candidate to stand. At least four anti-war candidates have said they will be standing, along with the Liberal Democrats.
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