Martin Bell at Lib Dem dinner

MARTIN Bell, the former Independent MP and BBC foreign correspondent, was guest speaker at Lewes LibDems dinner at the Corn Exchange on Saturday.

Wearing his trademark white suit, he entertained more than 100 members and guests with comments on his two election campaigns and his term in the House.

He said he had accepted the invitation to speak to members of a party to which he had no allegiance because he regarded Lewes MP Norman Baker as an 'honorary Independent . He had been particularly impressed by Mr Baker s success in 'claiming Peter Mandelson s scalp .

He said he had left the House after failing in his bid to win a second seat Brentwood and Ongar as an Independent with a mixture of regret and relief. He said the most saddening statistic of 2001 was the low turnout in the general election, and he hoped that more people from outside the conventional political world would successfully stand for Parliament.

Mr Bell now a special representative for UNICEF said he regretted the low profile of foreign affairs in British consciousness, due in part to the dumbing down of television.

And in response to a question about the need for greater aid for world trouble spots particularly Afghan refugees he said he believed in higher taxes to help the world s poor.

Voicing thanks to Mr Bell, Norman Baker said it was vital that an independent voice was heard in the House of Commons.

Guests enjoyed a buffet dinner provided by Lewes town councillor Maureen Messer, who was thanked for her efforts by constituency chair Carol Borowski.