I won't claim MP expenses, says David Van Day

3:00pm Tuesday 26th May 2009 in News By Andy Chiles

David Van Day David Van Day

David Van Day yesterday claimed "you don't have to be a brain surgeon to be an MP" as he launched his Parliamentary quest.

The pop singer and reality TV star is considering standing for election in Mid Bedfordshire in response to the expenses scandal.

Mr Van Day, 52, from Brighton, said: "MPs have had it too good for too long. They have taken too many liberties."

The former Dollar frontman said he was 85% certain he would stand against Nadine Dorries, the Conservative MP disowned by David Cameron after claiming the publication of the expenses had been torture.

He said he wanted to go to the constituency and gauge local opinion towards him standing under the banner of his own No Expenses Party.

Mr Van Day, who once ran a burger stall at Churchill Square shopping centre in Brighton, said: "There's no reason why I couldn't be elected.

"Being an MP is not rocket science you don't need to be a brain surgeon.

"Most of it is common sense, which most of the time you see a lack of.

"All I can do is offer them my services and not charge them for it.

"I would charge nothing at all in expenses and I wouldn't claim for a second home."

Mr Van Day has dabbled in politics in the past, standing unsuccessfully for a seat on Brighton and Hove City Council in the East Brighton ward.

He returned to fame last year during a high profile stint in I m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Comments(31)

Bobster says...
3:16pm Tue 26 May 09

Go on DVD - go for it! Proof indeed that we could do no worse than the current criminal crop.

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MarcoPolo says...
3:16pm Tue 26 May 09

This is depressing. A sad day for politics when cretins think they can become MPs. "Being an MP is not rocket science you don't need to be a brain surgeon." A hopeless mixed metaphor but fails to recognise that you do need to have some political ideas, be organised, smart and dedicated. Day confuses being an MP with being a D-list celebrity.

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Osama bin there says...
3:29pm Tue 26 May 09

'I won't claim MPs expenses' says David van Day.

Too right you won't. You aren't an MP, and the british public has far too much sense to vote you in.

Now please go away with your windtunnel stretched face and leave us alone.

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RickH says...
3:32pm Tue 26 May 09

Is this the same 80s washed-up has-been who was reported in this every paper on 20th May ie 6 days ago as saying "After his defeat in the May 2007 Brighton and Hove City Council elections, Van Day said he had no intention of following in Ms Rantzen's steps."! Whilst we all change our minds from time-to-time, this is really rather like jumping on a band-wagon. Any idiot who votes for this failed Tory-boy deserves what comes their way!

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Abrightonian says...
3:36pm Tue 26 May 09

Thank god he isn't going to stand in Brighton and Hove.

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censored says...
3:43pm Tue 26 May 09

He really is quite stupid, isn't he? His whole campaign seems to be "any idiot can be an MP, so vote for this idiot".

Brilliant

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stan bailey says...
3:48pm Tue 26 May 09

he is a media junkie. Has nothing intelligent to say

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Randy Lahey says...
4:01pm Tue 26 May 09

you certainly don't need to be a brain surgeon.

However;
you DO have to have some degree of intelligence, and if the live on-air dumping fiasco is anything to go by, Mr Van Day suffers from a serious lack thereof.

It's quite funny - i'm sure the people of Bedfordshire will sleep safe in the knowledge that their constituency is being fought over by a thief and a man holding a record for longest ever attempt at a comeback to the media spotlight.

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Jim BB says...
4:09pm Tue 26 May 09

Okay, I want a cut of his salary as I actually suggested he stand opposite the dreadful Nadine Dorries when he was quoted as supporting Esther Rantzen!

As I used to live in Mid-Beds under the 'reign' of the appalling Dorries, I genuinely wish DVD all the very best and can guarantee no one will ever be as bad as her, no matter how many homes they claim!

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chusan says...
4:20pm Tue 26 May 09

I think he needs a brain surgeon to try and sort him out!!

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jonathon says...
4:21pm Tue 26 May 09

This must be a joke.

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Andre Spooner says...
4:24pm Tue 26 May 09

My horse would be a better MP!

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Conor says...
5:02pm Tue 26 May 09

Arrggh! How long before Katie Price and Peter Wozzisname make similar announcements?

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Bobster says...
5:18pm Tue 26 May 09

Oh really - don't you watch any tv? I am not seriously suggesting he'd make a good mp but if you really think most mps "have some political ideas, be organised, smart and dedicated" then you are in a dream world. Hopeless, theiving freeloaders without the intelligence to do anything other than jump on the idiot gravy train.

At the start of the expenses scandal they all came out saying 'it's a tiny minority of us'. Well, sorry, but the list now stands at 57 and it's still rising. If nearly 10% of YOUR employees were on the fiddle I don't think you'd brush it under the carpet as a minority.

This eye opener has been a long time coming. The only tragedy is - who the hell is there left to vote for?

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Bobster says...
5:20pm Tue 26 May 09

Bobster wrote:
Oh really - don't you watch any tv? I am not seriously suggesting he'd make a good mp but if you really think most mps "have some political ideas, be organised, smart and dedicated" then you are in a dream world. Hopeless, theiving freeloaders without the intelligence to do anything other than jump on the idiot gravy train. At the start of the expenses scandal they all came out saying 'it's a tiny minority of us'. Well, sorry, but the list now stands at 57 and it's still rising. If nearly 10% of YOUR employees were on the fiddle I don't think you'd brush it under the carpet as a minority. This eye opener has been a long time coming. The only tragedy is - who the hell is there left to vote for?
I'll just correct my own typo befor Bibble does. Thieving.

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Hugh Rinall says...
6:23pm Tue 26 May 09

We've had the incompetents and criminals, surely we're not going to have bimbo celebs and junkies thrust upon us!

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Guerrero says...
6:42pm Tue 26 May 09

Maybe he could be Mayor of London.
He reminds me of Boris Johnson.

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custard custard says...
7:31pm Tue 26 May 09

"There's no reason why I couldn't be elected "

What an idiot !!

or to quote the great Buzz Lightyear

You are a sad, strange little man, and you have my pity

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bugmenot says...
7:50pm Tue 26 May 09

Are there no dodgy MPs in the Scottish highlands he could challenge? Or obscure towns in Yorkshire? Or on the Lost island?




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puddingandpi says...
9:31pm Tue 26 May 09

TW@T!

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DoWeHavTo says...
11:47pm Tue 26 May 09

There may be a cult of celebrity in this country but there are limits to which we will not stoop.

Better to elect Katie Price than DVD - she's got a better business brain.

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Guerrero says...
11:58pm Tue 26 May 09

Celebrity cage fighting.
DVD v Boris Johnson.
I'd pay setanta to watch that.
Vanessa Feltz v Fern Britton.
Full contact.Winner gets a daytime tv slot.
Imagine the agression.
Loser gets to be Home Secretary.

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chris@chrisgray.net says...
12:35am Wed 27 May 09

he is only after the money. public office is a thing not to be taken in jest.

if the burger van fails try Parliament....

he is just jumping on the gravey waggon.

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deanaprior says...
1:54am Wed 27 May 09

One more DVD story I'll never buy the Argus again. Please print something interesting

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Giles says...
7:55am Wed 27 May 09

The day Van Day takes his seat in parliament will be the same day the Albion play back at the Goldstone

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Jim BB says...
10:20am Wed 27 May 09

DoWeHavTo wrote:
There may be a cult of celebrity in this country but there are limits to which we will not stoop.

Better to elect Katie Price than DVD - she's got a better business brain.
Didn't Katie stand in the last election for Manchester when she became Katie again and not Jordan?

From what I remember, she didn't quite understand what she was doing - unlike her meticulously PRed split from Peter.

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Voice of the silent Majority says...
10:28am Wed 27 May 09

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Oh he really is as stupid as he acts, i feel sorry for his family

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domcom says...
10:52am Wed 27 May 09

A real newspaper would ask what his policies are rather than just report he "once ran a burger stall".

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Tye says...
11:01am Wed 27 May 09

Bobster wrote:
Go on DVD - go for it! Proof indeed that we could do no worse than the current criminal crop.
A dozen at most "MAY" be criminal so all the 645 are branded crooks - I hope there aren't any drug dealers in your street otherwise you'll end up in Jail if the Cops use your argument.

PS Don't show any more pictures of this man - It makes my kids have nightmares (and this is after the plastic surgey)

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hove says...
11:41am Wed 27 May 09

I'd like to hear his policies please.
I saw DVD in Hove on Sunday....wearing a Dollar t shirt! Hhah.

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Mr. Kipling says...
3:52pm Mon 1 Jun 09

I would like to hear his policies. Having said that, I suppose he can`t do any worse than the current lot.

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