Veteran punk rocker Captain Sensible today hailed his sponsorship deal with Bradford crisp manufacturer Seabrook as the way forward for British politics.

The Captain, the drummer with The Damned but best known for his 1982 solo chart-topper Happy Talk, is heading the new Blah! Party which has been given financial backing by the crisp company.

Packets of its famous crinkle-cut crisps will soon feature the Blah! Party logo and details on how to take out free membership.

In an exclusive interview with the Telegraph & Argus, Captain Sensible said Seabrook could help make him an MP - or even Prime Minister.

He unveiled his manifesto "to give all politicians a kick up the jacksie" at a reception close to the Labour Party Conference in Manchester.

He told the T&A he and Seabrook shared the same ideals and values.

He said: "It's a family-run company with principles - and they are a great British brand.

"We are a party of protest. Politicians come out with lies and spin and then we say Blah! Blah! Blah!'."

The Captain has met Seabrook chairman Ken Brook-Chrispin and visited the company's factory in Duncombe Street, Girlington, where he chatted to members of staff.

He said: "When I got home and told my kids I had been round a crisps factory they were so jealous."

And when it comes to the crunch the Captain believes he can impress disillusioned voters.

"Punk was a kind of protest movement in itself. This is about getting up the politicians' noses and annoying them and, hopefully, shaking things up a bit," he said.

He added that it would be nice to be Prime Minister but the party was first hoping to become the biggest in Britain by attracting more than 300,000 members.

Mr Brook-Chrispin said Seabrook was the sole sponsor of the Blah! Party. He said: "It's a rolling programme. We don't know how much it will cost but we have set an upper limit. We'll see how it goes."

He believes voters should treat the Captain with more than a pinch of salt.

"He's a lovely chap and he talks a heck of a lot of sense," he said.

Mr Brook-Chrispin met Captain Sensible by chance as Seabrook shares the same PR company.

He said: "He mentioned the new party and I thought there was a lot of synergy there. When he toured the factory the staff all liked him.

"When we told them about the sponsorship deal they were amazed and really behind it. A lot of the girls say their kids will love it."

So has Mr Brook-Chrispin already joined the Blah! Party?

"Yes, and I will definitely be voting Blah!," he said.

e-mail: newsdesk@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

THE BLAH! PARTY POLICIES
  • Stop FA paying Sven Goran Eriksson £13,000 a day for doing nothing.
  • Stop great British brands being being bought by overseas conglomerates.
  • Turn Two Jags' Mr Prescott from a fatty to fitty. He must lead by example.
  • Keep non-violent offenders out of prison and make them do something useful instead.
  • Give the British public a say in who leads our country, not just Labour Party members and affiliated unions.
  • More information can be found on its website: www.blahparty.org