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Last Updated: Monday, 10 January, 2005, 17:53 GMT
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Poll Idol contest gets under way
The Cheeky Girls were discovered on Popstars: The Rivals
Fourteen contestants are lining up on Monday for ITV's Pop Idol-style talent competition to find a member of the public to stand for Parliament.
The candidates on Vote for Me will take part in televised challenges, judged by an independent panel.
The winner will be chosen by a phone vote from a shortlist of seven and encouraged to stand for Parliament in one of the UK's 659 constituencies.
The channel says the week-long series could help tackle voter apathy.
Former ITN political editor John Sergeant will head the judging panel, joined by ex-Sun newspaper editor Kelvin MacKenzie and television presenter Lorraine Kelly.
Super tax?
Among the contestants are a Suffolk housewife who wants to encourage people to care of one another and a London writer advocating a three year tax relief for new businesses.
There is also a 31-year-old student who wants to fund the welfare state through a "super tax" for the rich and a London lawyer desperate to stop Britain adopting the euro.
One contestant will be voted out at the end of each show.
Presenter Jonathan Maitland has said the idea was to "find a new political star".
The programme was looking for "people who appeal to young voters," he said.
"One of the main reasons we are doing this programme is because the politicians themselves have said to us, 'you have got to do something to re-engage people, particularly young people, with the political process'".
ITV will not be funding the winner's campaign and their eventual choice of constituency will be up to them.
Poll Idol contest gets under way
