Could Alex Reid be Brighton and Hove’s next Labour MP?
The former Celebrity Big Brother winner and ex-husband of Katie Price has announced plans to run for Parliament and has been eyeing up seats in the city.
Alex, who trained as a cage fighter in Hove, said he wanted to use his celebrity for a good cause, put an end to media ridicule and become like his childhood idol He-Man.
Speaking exclusively to The Argus, Alex said: “I have always been passionate about a lot of subjects, that’s why I was a soldier, then I grew up and realised a lot of the rubbish we were fighting for.”
Alex said he was hoping the public would take him seriously in the polls.
He and his fiancée Chantelle Houghton – also a former Big Brother contestant – are expecting a baby, but he said that his regular appearances in gossip columns could be helpful in securing votes in an election.
He said: “I absolutely understand the impression people may have of me. But I want to turn the boos into cheers.
“Being famous for fame’s sake has never appealed to me. I was being ridiculed, but when I went into Big Brother the public began to see the real me. And when I won it was fantastic.
“People got to know the real me. I haven’t got any delusions of grandeur.
“Someone asked me if I’d like to be the Prime Minister and of course I would.
“People get the wrong impression. I don’t just want to be famous. I trained as an actor, I was a fighter and now I’m doing lots of things.
“The media likes to ridicule me, but the media is the perfect way for people to know who I am. I’m in the newspapers daily.
“I have had some stick but people believe I am who I am.
Representing people
“All my skeletons are out already. I’m a pretty good guy in my heart. My ideal would be to make people think ‘wow’.
“I grew up on He-Man. He would fight bad guys and have morals.
“He made me want to be healthy and fit.
“If I could do that it would be my ideal.
“I guess it would make me the first cage fighting MP but that’s a good thing because it shows anyone can become a politician and represent the people, it shows everyone in the country can achieve anything if they want to.
“I guess I’d like to take on George Osborne in the ring, I’d do him a deal, I’d let him beat me if he gave the country a tax-free month… help us all get back on our feet a bit.”
Alex hopes to be able to run for one of the three Brighton and Hove constituencies, but said he had not yet decided which.
He added: “I have a lot of links to Brighton and Hove, lots of friends and lots of allegiances that I hope would support me. It’s not about being an MP, it’s about helping people.
“I want to lobby for a tax on junk food, free healthy school meals for all kids, to get schemes in place to give the public government subsidies on gyms as a way to keep the nation healthier and reduce NHS costs.
“The people know I am Alex Reid, nothing more nothing less, you get what you see.”
Would you vote for Alex Reid? Tell us what you think by writing to our letters page, emailing letters@theargus.co.uk or leaving a comment below.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel