Bell Church

The Peniel Pentecostal Church in Brentwood, Essex. Former BBC war correspondent and Tatton MP Martin Bell has announced that he is to stand as an independent in the up coming general election, for the Tory-held seat of Brentwood and Ongar. * His move follows an approach by some local Conservatives who have expressed concern that the constituency association has been infiltrated by some 200 members of the Church. A number of ousted party members, who formed an Independent conservative group, subsequently contacted Mr Bell expressing concern about the influence wielded by the church in the party. Eric Pickles held the Brentwood and Ongar seat for the Tories at the last election with a majority of 9,690, making it the sixth safest Tory seat in the country. (Photo by Sean Dempsey - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)