New election rules will cut down on the confusion in all UK elections - but not on the number of eligible candidates, as BBC Scotland's Tim Reid reports.

The BBC's Tim Reid: "The new act will not stop eccentric entries"

Former headmaster Richard Huggett hit the headlines in 1992 when he stood as a Literal Democrat candidate in the European Parliament Election in Devon and East Plymouth.

Without even issuing any election literature, he polled 10,203 votes against Adrian Sanders who was fighting on the official Liberal Democrat ticket.

Richard Huggett: A Literal Democrat

If Mr Sanders surname had come higher in the alphabet, and hence higher on the ballot paper, the result would have been very different.

Mr Sanders, now MP for Torbay, said: "The confusion was not people who were poor readers as we discovered from affidavits that came in, it tended to be professional people, doctors, solicitors, who had a problem because they read too quick.

"They had learnt to scan read things and therefore when it came to the ballot paper they applied the same way of reading."

Mr Sanders was not the only one Mr Huggett stood against. The re-run Winchester by-election in 1997 was equally controversial - although more so for the disputed votes between the Lib Dem Mark Oaten and the Tory Gerry Malone, but even the returning officer misread Mr Huggett's title as Liberal not Literal.

Among the acts passed in the last session of Parliament was the Registration of Political Parties Act which allows parties to put their logo next to their candidate on the ballot paper for the first time.

It also forbids confusing titles - including the use of the word "independent".

Dennis Canavan: Cannot use Independent on ballot paper

Veteran Labour MP for Falkirk West Dennis Canavan was not selected by his party as a candidate for the Scottish Parliament but is determined to stand as an independent.

He said: "During the Scottish general election on 6 May the Westminster Parliament will still exist so I can describe myself simply as the Member of Parliament for Falkirk West, or the Socialist Member of Parliament for Falkirk West.

"Or I could pick on an election slogan or a soundbite. One I've used quite frequently in the past is 'Dennis Canavan puts people first' or I could describe myself on the ballot paper as 'Dennis Canavan simply the best'."

Mr Canavan will soon decide whether he will also stand on the additional regional list for assembly. If he does, he believes he will be at a distinct advantage. The second ballot paper will only include the parties not candidate's names - whereas he will submit his name.

Lord Sutch: Wants loonies to stand in Scotland

Mr Canavan said: "So if I was the only named person on that additional list ballot paper there might be some advantage in that."

The new act will not stop eccentric entries on the ballot paper such as the Up the Creek Have a Party Party, and the Jolly Small Brewers Party.

Lord Sutch, leader of the Monster Raving Loony Party has already made his mind up to stand in May's elections and is encouraging people to stand with him.