Norwich North by-election
It's a by-election which could play a key role in determining the future of this country's government, but the setting for the crucial count could hardly be further removed from the halls of Westminster.
The Norwich North by-election will be contested by 12 candidates, but the name Ian Gibson will not be among them.
Charles Clarke has blasted the Labour disciplinary procedures that led Ian Gibson to resign from his Norwich constituency and have triggered a potentially very damaging by-election for the party in the city.
Norwich North
Candidates
VIDEO: Candidates say why you should vote for them
Peter Baggs (independent)
Thomas Burridge (Libertarian Party)
Anne Fryatt (NOTA)
Bill Holden (independent)
Howling Laud (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)
Craig Murray (Put an Honest Man into Parliament)
Chris Ostrowski (Labour Party)
April Pond (Liberal Democrats)
Rupert Read (Green Party)
Chloe Smith (Conservative Party)
Glenn Tingle (UK Independence Party)
Robert West (British National Party)
Background
The by-election is necessary following the resignation of Ian Gibson (Labour), first elected MP for this constituency in 1997. After being caught up in the MPs' expenses row, he was barred from standing in the next general election by a national Labour Party panel, despite support from local party members. Mr Gibson tendered his resignation, saying: "I believe that my position as an MP between now and the next election is untenable."
Norwich MP Ian Gibson quits: and forces by-election
The life and times of Ian Gibson
2005 general election
Labour 21,097 (45%)
Conservative 15,638 (33%)
Lib Dem 7,616 (16%)
Green 1,252
UKIP 1,122
Independent 308
(Turnout 61%)
EDP public affairs correspondent follows the local politics scene.