Esther Rantzen to run for Parliament

LONDON (Reuters) - Television host and journalist Esther Rantzen said on Tuesday she will stand as an independent candidate in the Luton South constituency at the next election, even if it leads to "humiliation."

Rantzen, who hosted the popular television show "That's Life!" for over 20 years, said in May she might run to challenge Labour MP Margaret Moran after she was tainted by the parliamentary expenses scandal.

Even though Moran now plans to step down, Rantzen said she had decided to go ahead with her campaign because of the local support she had received.

"They were tremendously welcoming, people in the street really took me by the hand and basically asked me to stand," she told the BBC.

"Political experts have told me I would be crazy to stand, that I haven't a hope in Hell ... but the people have said: 'Go for it.'"

According to the Daily Telegraph, Moran claimed 22,500 pounds for dry rot repairs for her second home in Southampton, nearly 80 miles from her constituency north of London.

She later said she would stand down at the next election because the affair had caused her stress and worsened an existing health problem.

Rantzen said she believed voters felt just as strongly about the expenses scandal as when it first came to light.

"I think that all of us deserve a choice and there may be other independent candidates coming forward now taking advantage of a new wind blowing through the world of politics and maybe bringing some fresh air with it," she said.