Source: Essex Evening Gazette [UK]

Pub Date: Friday 16 May 2003

Subj: MP Bernard hits Top Gear in MG

Author: Tom Weatherill tom.weatherill@thisisessex.co.uk

Contact: gazette_postbag@thisisessex.co.uk

web site http://www.thisisessex.co.uk

MP BERNARD JENKIN HITS TOP GEAR IN MG

CAN Bernard Jenkin hit Top Gear, overtake Labour and prove he is the master of spin?

Mr Jenkin, MP for North Essex, fought to stay off the grass when he stepped behind the wheel to face down the Legalise Cannabis Alliance on the race track.

The MP competed in Top Gear programme's fastest polit­ical party race, driving an MG ZR 1.8 litre rally car.

The programme, presented by Jeremy Clarkson, recruited drivers from six mainstream and off-beat political parties to stage an alternative general election.

The results are being kept a closely-guarded secret, even the politicians have been kept in the dark about how they fared.

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The politicians took turns to drive three laps on the track with the fastest time of the three counting.

A spokesman for the pro­gramme said: "We decided the next general election without all that messy voting, but with a group of politicians, an MG rally car and the Top Gear test track."

Also on the track looking for Top Gear were Mark Gibson, of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, Ian Dixon of the Green Party, 'Labour MP for Birmingham Northfield Richard Burden.. John Ault, of the Liberal Democrats, and Alan 'Howling Laud' Hope driving for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party.