UKIP councillor to fight for Commons seat
A long standing councillor has announced plans to step down from his role - as he makes a bid for win a seat at Westminster.
Ken Turner, aged 72, recently joined the UK Independence Party and was successful in regaining his seat on Dudley Council in 2011.
But the Halesowen councillor today said age would be no barrier to become a parliamentary candidate in Walsall South at the next election.
It comes as 81-year-old Labour MP David Winnick plans to stand again for election in his neighbouring Walsall North constituency.
Mr Turner was formally a Conservative councillor for a decade before he controversially left the party.
He and his wife and fellow councillor Hazel stood down from the Tories on Dudley Council last December.
The couple left in a row after Halesowen councillor Ken Turner was accused of 'bullying' behaviour by local party officials – a claim he denied.
They had been Conservative party members since they were first elected in 2002 and 2003.
And he claimed himself and his wife have been subject to 'victimisation' from party members since they were first elected in 2002 and 2003 respectively.
Mr Turner said he will begin campaigning shortly for the party in Walsall South which is currently held by Labour's Valerie Vaz.
"I have had plenty of experience in the council and I believe it is the right time for me to stand for Parliament," he said.
"I don't see my age as a problem. If you look back 20 years ago an MP had experience in life and ministers all had long professional lives before entering cabinet.
"Nowadays you have career politicians who leave university and enter the House of Commons with little experience of the real world.
"This isn't always best for their constituents and I want to make sure local people's voices are heard."
His son Adrian, who was former a councillor for Lye and Wollescote, will stand for UKIP in the seat he is vacating in Hayley Green and Cradley South.
"I'm not standing in May the reason being I do feel that after 13 years service to the local community I've done what I can and Adrian will be standing in Hayley Green and Cradley South to offer a complete continued community service," said Mr Turner.
"Walsall South is absolutely a target seat for UKIP. I would look forward to representing Walsall South in Westminster and making sure residents benefit in the local area."
