Taxi Driver Online

Halifax Courier

January 26, 2008

Cherie Blair's step mum will stand in Calderdale

CHERIE Blair's stepmother is to stand as a Labour candidate in Calderdale.

Stephenie Booth, who is married to actor Tony Booth, will fight the Todmorden seat when voters go to the polls in May.

Stephenie and her husband, a well-known actor who made his name in Till Death Us Do Part alongside Warren Mitchell (Alf Garnett) and has starred in many TV roles, moved to Todmorden in December 2006, after it was recommended by an Irish taxi driver.

They have since attracted plenty of local attention. But she says when she embarks on the campaign trail she does not want her famous family getting in the way.

"Tony and Cherie are pleased I am standing but they are both so busy now, I don't think they will be visiting.

"My husband gets a lot of people coming up to him around Todmorden - plenty of hugs as well.

"But that is part of the reason we love it around here. There is no whispering behind hands or anything like that.

"We say we have fallen on our feet here and it is particularly because of the people.

"That is something I want in my campaign. I see Todmorden at a crossroads and I want people to get involved in developing the town for the future."

Despite her political connections, Mrs Booth, who is also involved in a charity called The Great Generation, says she will not be asking for any help from the former Prime Minister.

She said: "What I want is for people to focus on my campaign, rather than my relatives."

The announcement to select Mrs Booth to fight the seat was made yesterday.
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