Bucks Fizz singer Jay Aston Colquhounis signs up as Brexit Party candidate

Bucks Fizz singer Jay Aston Colquhounis signs up as Brexit Party candidate

The Eurovision winner will contest the London seat of Kensington on behalf of Nigel Farage's party.

By Greg Heffer, political reporter
Jay Aston Colquhounis (bottom left) won Eurovision in 1981 as a member of Bucks Fizz
Image: Jay Aston Colquhounis (bottom left) won Eurovision in 1981 as a member of Bucks Fizz
Voters in one London constituency will be making their minds up about whether they want a former Eurovision winner to be their MP.
Jay Aston Colquhounis, who won the song contest as a member of Bucks Fizz in 1981, will be the Brexit Party's parliamentary candidate in Kensington.
The 58-year-old was announced as a prospective MP at a rally in Westminster on Tuesday.
Jay Aston now performs with The Fizz
Image: The 58-year-old now performs with The Fizz
She said: "I used to live in Kensington and it still feels like home.
"I want to stand for the Brexit Party and fight to uphold democracy for the sake of the people.
"As an MP, I will work to rebuild trust and help the Brexit Party make the necessary reforms to unite the country after we break free of the EU."
The singer was a member of Bucks Fizz from 1981 to 1985, during which time the band won Eurovision with their song Making Your Mind Up.
They also enjoyed success with chart-topping singles The Land Of Make Believe and My Camera Never Lies.
She now performs as part of spin-off group The Fizz.
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice applauds as Leader of the Brexit Party, Nigel Farage speaks onstage on August 27, 2019 in London, England. The Brexit Party conference held at the Emmanuel Centre is due to reveal plans for a future general election. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Image: The Brexit Party are 'ready' for a general election
Kensington was a Conservative electoral stronghold until 2017, when Labour's Emma Dent Coad won the seat by just 20 votes in a shock result.
The Brexit Party, led by Nigel Farage, currently have 635 "approved candidates", of whom 300 have so far been named.
Party chairman Richard Tice said: "We are ready and we are here to offer a genuine democratic alternative that is faithful to the referendum result over three years ago.
"The Remain-dominated parliament must now listen and deliver the clean-break Brexit the people want so the UK can thrive outside the EU."
Nigel Farage vows to field candidates up and down the country in a general election unless there is a clean break with Europe
Farage issues Brexit ultimatum to PM
However, Mr Farage told Sky News the Brexit Party would stand down candidates against the Conservatives if Prime Minister Boris Johnson calls a general election and backs a no-deal divorce with the EU.
He offered the non-aggression pact while warning Mr Johnson would "die politically" if he fails to deliver Brexit on 31 October.
Other candidates revealed by the Brexit Party on Tuesday include former BBC and Channel 4 executive Dr Yasmin Fitzpatrick and Professor John Fitzpatrick OBE from the University of Kent's law school.