A FORMER Fleet Street journalist is to stand against Tony Blair in the next General Election.

At a Press conference in the Prime Minister's Sedgefield constituency this week, Terry Pattinson will explain why he has chosen to challenge Mr Blair .

The 61-year-old is representing the Senior Citizens' Party, formed in January to further the aims and aspirations of the over-50s.

Mr Pattinson, who was born in Gateshead, is a member of the Labour Party. He lives in Chertsey, Surrey, where he works as chief reporter of the Surrey Herald.

He said: "I will be appealing to everybody disillusioned with the main political parties and, of course, the droves of disillusioned Labour supporters, along with all senior citizens who feel successive governments have given them a raw deal.

"I will also appeal to the growing numbers of young people who do not bother to vote.

"The senior citizens of this country will, in our lifetime, take power over local and regional councils and could one day form a Government.

"When that day occurs, young people will know they will have a decent pension to look forward to, and elderly people will know that they have a pension linked to average earnings.

"Above all, they will know they do not have to face prison over council taxes."