AN OTLEY peace campaigner is to stand as a candidate in next month's General Election - in Prime Minister Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency.

Midwife Helen John, who later this month is due to appear in court accused of attempting to break into the Menwith Hill base, said she hopes to stimulate debate on the future of the American base and the controversial 'son of Star Wars' weapon defence system which has caused international controversy.

She hopes standing as an independent candidate for the June 7 election to raise awareness and encourage debate about Menwith Hill and the future controversial plans.

Miss John told the Wharfedale Observer: "Tony Blair has done his best to stifle debate on this subject. It has been disgraceful the way he has shunned democracy. Standing in his constituency means that I will force the debate into the open. If it means going head to head in a debate with him, then I'm all for it.

"I'm not saying that the people of Sedgefield will automatically change their political views and support me - I just want to encourage debate and make people aware of what's going on.

"Nobody has been allowed to listen to my views so far. At the end of the day, I may only be a midwife and don't understand much about technology, but I do know that nuclear warheads are dangerous."

Miss John said she believed that the best defence strategy was by investing in education, health care and conflict resolution personnel - and pledged that whatever the outcome of the election, she would still continue as a peace campaigner at the Menwith Hill base.

"President Bush ought to look in his own back yard, as 40 million Americans are without healthcare insurance - that is the major threat, not nuclear weapons," she added. "Because of the American's plans, other countries like China are planning to increase their nuclear arsenal. We are creating the threat of war ourselves. In reality, there is little threat of war."

l Britain was this week due to begin talks that could see it playing a crucial role in the anti-missile defence system. The Ballistic Missile Defence System will detect and destroy long-range missiles within minutes of their launch. To make any of the systems under consideration work, it will require an upgrade of Menwith Hill and Fylingdales early warning station.