Ex MP's bid '˜4' Eurovision glory

Ian Cawsey with band MP4 EMN-160130-115427001

Former Brigg MP Ian Cawsey is making a bid to represent the UK in this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

Mr Cawsey, who represented Brigg between 1997 and 2010, is part of rock band MP4 - its name a pun on the four MP members.

The former Labour politician said: “It has been a longstanding joke in the band that we would be the ideal UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest as the UK’s fate has been increasingly decided by the politics of countries rather than the quality of the  songs.

“So if the Eurovision is going to be political what better response than to send in the politicians!”

The final decision on the UK’s 2016 entry will be decided during a BBC TV show to air in the coming  months.

Mr Cawsey said: “We hope that they may see us as a quirky wildcard to throw into the mix and maybe, just maybe, it might be so unexpected it gets viewers across the Eurovision area to vote  UK!”

The band formed in 2004 and also includes Cardiff West MP Kevin Brennan, Scottish National Party MP Pete Wishart and East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight.

Mr Cawsey said: “Pete Wishart had become the MP for Perth and North Perthshire and has an amazing musical background (having played in both Runrig and Big County and appearing several times on Top of the  Pops).

“He was keen to start something in parliament and found out about my musical background.

“We were chatting about this and I said we’d struggle to find an MP who could play the drums but Greg Knight was walking past at the time and stopped to say he was a drummer.

“So we set up as MP3 then Kevin Brennan pestered us into adding him so we became MP4.

“We have played together for over 10 years since and have helped to raise over £1m for charity for which the BPI presented us with an honorary gold  disc.”

He added: “We are the world’s only parliamentary rock band!”

Mr Cawsey is the band’s lead singer and bass  player.

So what about MP4’s  song?

Mr Cawsey said: “We don’t necessarily have a song (although we do have several to choose  from).

“Most performers at the (BBC) competition are singing the song that has been chosen for them.

“We are happy to do that if that helps get us to  Sweden.”