You're the judge. Portishead pool campaigner stands for European Parliament.

AFTER winning the battle to keep Portishead Open Air Pool open one campaigner is taking on a fresh political challenge.

Roger Whitfield, chairman of the Portishead Pool Community Trust, wants to stand for election to the European Parliament.

Roger, aged 43, is a prospective candidate of a new political party, or non-party as it might term itself, The Jury Team.

The organisation is planning to field 70 candidates in June's European elections on an anti-political party platform.

It intends to select independent candidates for each region, chosen by a text-message voting system, to offer an alternative to what it describes as the 'lobby-fodder' of traditional political parties.

Roger, who has previously stood for election for the Labour Party, said he put his name forward as he was disillusioned with the main political parties.

He said: "I am standing because like many people I feel let down by politicians and the party system.

"I've always put my money where my mouth is and feel I can make a difference.

"While I have previously represented the Labour Party I do agree with some elements of Conservative policy but feel the party whip system is undemocratic.

"I'd like to see more transparency and honesty return to politics.

"People are fed up of seeing politicians claiming huge expenses and the whole system needs reforming.

"But to make effective change you have to do it from within."

The system Jury Team is using to chose its candidates owes a lot to the American Primary system.

Prospective candidates have signed up to its website and take part in 'Open Primaries' with the public texting their preferences.

The party has been backed by the former independent MP for Tatton Martin Bell.

The Jury Team believes it is the first political movement in the world to select its candidates by text voting, something it says is direct democracy in action.

People who wish for Roger to become a candidate can vote for him before the end of April by texting ROGWHI01 to 86837, texts cost 25p plus the usual network rate.

The party, founded by Sir Paul Judge, said it will harvest the power of the internet to attract support.

It begins an aggressive attack advertising campaign against politicians tomorrow by placing online adverts with Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's local newspaper The Redditch Advertiser regarding her expenses claims.