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Dave Rowntree
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Blur star to bang drum on poverty
Musician stands in by-election
THE drummer of the pop group Blur, Dave Rowntree, is running for Marylebone High Street in a by-election on May 3.
Mr Rowntree, who lives in Berners Street, Marylebone, will stand as a Labour candidate.
He wants to address the extreme deprivation dividing north from south Westminster.
He said: “Nine Westminster wards are among the most deprived in England. I think somebody needs to do something about that.”
The seat became free after Tory councillor Paul Vearncombe resigned following after police investigation.
Mr Vearncombe, who was managing agent of Bryanston Court Residents’ Association in 2005, quit after a high court injunction froze his accounts last Friday.
The ward returned three Conservative councillors last May with big majorities – each got more than 1,250 votes, while their nearest competitor got 300.
Blur, part of the 1990s Britpop phenomenon, endorsed New Labour before 1997.
On his website, Mr Rowntree, describes himself as a “long-standing member of the Labour Party”, who was chairman of his local branch.
Also standing in the by-election are Stuart Bonar for the Liberal Democrats, Colin Merton for the UK Independence Party and Ian Rowley for the Conservatives.
The Tories, who control the council with 48 out of 60 seats, are pledging low council tax, more recycling, more CCTV, more motorcycle and cycle parking space, better schools and more affordable housing.
Lib Dem Mr Bonar said: “Dave may be a great drummer, but his political insight may be a little blurred. He says that ‘somebody needs to do something’ about urban deprivation. Well, his party – Labour – have been in power for a decade now.
“Just like Blur, Labour was top of the pops 10 years ago, but not now. Tony Blair and the Labour party face a disastrous election night in May. They will not win here in Marylebone. The best option for Labour voters is not to be seduced by pop star candidates, but to back the Liberal Democrats.”
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