Standing in a By-election

Ј150 and ten signatures is all you need to stand in a British election. Can it really be that simple?

The February 1984 Chesterfield by-election was a popular one with the media as it brought the former Labour high flyer Tony Benn back from the political wilderness. It was also popular with the fringe candidates as reporter Debi Davies finds out when she launches her own frivolous political party and finds the nomination process surprisingly easy.