Bell will not contest Blears seat

Hazel Blears has been urged to quit by campaigners in Salford

Former independent MP and BBC correspondent Martin Bell has told campaigners he will not stand against Hazel Blears at the next election.

Campaigners said the Salford Labour MP must agree not to stand at the next general election by 31 October, or they will field a candidate to stop her.

About 50 constituents want her replaced by an independent candidate.

But Mr Bell told the meeting in Salford: "I think the odds are against the campaign succeeding."

He added: "But it's got a chance, if people are motivated to vote and we get a higher turnout in Salford because of this campaign, then it will be good for Salford and good for Hazel Blears because she will have fought off a challenge."

Mr Bell successfully deposed Neil Hamilton by standing as an independent in Knutsford in 1997.

He was invited to speak at the "Hazel Must Go" meeting because of his past experience as an independent MP.

Ms Blears has been MP for Salford since 1997 and has already successfully defeated a vote of no confidence from her local constituency party, after she was embroiled in the MPs' expenses scandal.