A FORMER Labour MP took a verbal swipe at his former political allies on a visit to the North-East.

Robert Kilroy Silk, an MP from 1974 to 1987, told voters on a visit to Hartlepool at the weekend: "The people of Hartlepool are bored and fed up with the culture of spin that surrounds MPs like Peter Mandelson."

Mr Mandelson resigned his seat as constituency MP, following his appointment as an EU Commissioner, triggering a by-election on September 30.

And Mr Kilroy Silk was in town to support Stephen Allison, the United Kingdom Independence Party's (UKIP) candidate for the seat. He answered a series of campaign engagements before taking part in a meeting at Hartlepool's Town Hall Theatre.

Earlier this month, he declared he would contest a Westminster seat at the next General Election. His TV career came to an end when the BBC dropped the programme after comments about Islam in his newspaper column.

In May, Mr Kilroy Silk joined UKIP and the following month he was elected as an MEP for the East Midlands region.

Candidates for the by-election are: Edward Abrams (English Democrats); Stephen Allison (UKIP); Philip Berriman (Independent); John Bloom (Respect); Ronnie Carroll (Independent); Jody Dunn (Liberal Democrat); Paul Watson (Fathers 4 Justice); Chris-topher Herriot (Socialist Labour Party); Alan Hope (Monster Raving Loony Party); Jeremy Middleton (Conservative); Richard Rodgers (The Common Good); Iris Ryder (Green Party); James Starkey (National Front); Iain Wright (Labour).