Elaine Bird of Fat Birds Dont Fly, a three year old Norfolk bike shop, has been selected as the prospective parliamentary Labour candidate to fight the marginal Boston Skegness seat. Husband Richard Bird, a former pilot, wants to work fulltime on the election campaign so the shop is up for sale

Bird takes a flyer on becoming a Blairs Babe

The current incumbent of the Boston Skegness seat is Tory loose cannon Sir Richard Body who retires at the next election, expected to take place in May 2001.

With a majority of just 700, the seat is ripe for a Labour takeover and the Birds are confident Elaine will fly into the position of local Labour MP.

Weve got to be positive and will work hard to win this seat, says Richard Bird.

But when were in full flight we dont want to have to sit down and do a VAT return so we have put the shop on the market.

The staff of nine part timers who work in rota fashion, with five in the shop during the summer have been told the Birds want to fly the nest, and so have their key suppliers.

Richard Bird is keen to support his wife in her chosen role as a prospective Blairs Babe and is helping out on the PR and marketing drive that has already started.

Bird has no fears of being pigeon-holed as a Denis Thatcher figure:

Im practising with the red wine and gin already, he laughs.

NB

The Fat Birds Dont Fly shop-for-sale ad went up on our Classifieds section earlier today.

In other news...

Carbitex announces two strategic new hires

Carbitex, the flexible carbon composites provider focused on footwear, travel, and accessories, has announced the …