SENIOR Plaid Cymru figures last night backed an audacious bid to challenge Tony Blair at the general election. Detailed plans were being kept under-wraps but the aim is to link up with disillusioned Labour supporters and a celebrity candidate to oust the prime minister from his own Sedge-field constituency. One of the brains behind the plan is Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Adam Price. He is also running a campaign calling for parliament to impeach the Prime Minister over the war in Iraq. The strategy would be similar to white-suited BBC reporter Martin Bell's stand and ultimate win over the then sitting Tory MP Ammanford-born Neil Hamilton at Tatton in 1997. "Imagine waking up the day after the election with Labour having won but without their leader," Mr Price said. Twenty-three MPs across all parties have signed the impeachment motion including Spectator editor Boris Johnson and former Labour maverick George Galloway. The campaign has also attracted celebrity campaigners such as authors Frederick Forsyth and Iain Banks, actor Susan Wooldridge and musician Brian Eno, one of the founders of Roxy Music. Mr Price confirmed Brian Eno is one of the people hoping to pick a well-known personality to stand against Mr Blair. Mr Price said: "Martin Bell stood against the Tory sleaze of the time. "Now a number of people are in a similar position saying that something needs to be done about the lack of honesty by Labour, especially about the reasons for going to war against Iraq." Mr Price said he did not know the identity of the likely candidate. He added: "A group of former Labour supporters are behind the campaign and want to choose a Martin Bell-type candidate in his white suit. "They are totally serious about it and are hoping that the two main opposition parties will stand down and allow Tony Blair and the candidate to go head-to-head." Plaid leader in the Commons Meirionnydd Nant Conwy MP Elfyn Llwyd said he supported the bid to challenge Mr Blair in his own backyard. "It's not an official party policy but I don't think anyone would be opposed to it. "It would highlight the issue of the Iraq war and the need for more honesty in politics," he added. Mr Llwyd has offered his backing to constituent Reg Keys, the father of military policeman Thomas Keys who was killed by a mob in Iraq. Mr Keys, of Llanuwchllyn, near Bala, plans to stand against defence secretary Geoff Hoon in the general election. "He has my full blessing and I will offer him what support and advice I can," Mr Llwyd said. Although Mr Blair's 17,000 majority looks solid, it was greatly reduced from the 25,000 he received in 1997. Mr Eno is the only household name linked to the plan. The former Roxy Music band member was once a supporter of Tony Blair's and part of the Red Wedge set of Labour-supporting musicians. Mr Price was last year short-listed for Channel 4's Campaigning Politician of the Year. And in 2003 he was named top campaigning politician by the Spectator for his work over the Mittal affair. A Labour spokeswoman said: "On the day Labour was announcing a £5 minimum wage, Adam Price was promoting himself with another silly stunt. Plaid Cymru has nothing to offer Wales let alone England." | 
