v ass ed ▁by ▁the ▁Labour ▁Party ▁candidates ▁for ▁his ▁area ▁in ▁the ▁West min ster ▁City ▁Council ▁elections , ▁which ▁would ▁give ▁him ▁an ▁opportunity ▁to ▁play ▁the ▁kind ▁of ▁tr icks ▁vot ers ▁often ▁play ▁on ▁election ▁candidates . ▁ ▁The ▁piece ▁was ▁published ▁and ▁was ▁well ▁received . ▁It ▁led ▁to ▁a ▁regular ▁commission ▁as ▁a ▁political ▁sketch writer ▁for ▁The ▁Independent ▁starting ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁political ▁comment ary ▁for ▁other ▁newsp apers . ▁Today ▁he ▁regularly ▁appears ▁as ▁a ▁comment ator ▁and ▁newspaper ▁rev iewer ▁on ▁British ▁television , ▁particularly ▁on ▁BBC ▁News ▁ 2 4 ▁and ▁Sky ▁News . ▁ ▁He ▁joined ▁N ig el ▁Far age ' s ▁Bre x it ▁Party ▁in ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 9 ▁but ▁said ▁that ▁he ▁is ▁not ▁planning ▁on ▁contest ing ▁elections . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁▁▁ ▁Category : Al umn i ▁of ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁York ▁Category : B rit ish ▁male ▁journal ists ▁Category : Con serv ative ▁Party ▁( UK ) ▁MP s ▁for ▁English ▁constitu encies ▁Category : UK ▁MP s ▁ 1 9 7 9 – 1 9 8 3 ▁Category : UK ▁MP s ▁ 1 9 8 3 – 1 9 8 7 ▁Category : UK ▁MP s ▁ 1 9 8 7 – 1 9 9 2 ▁Category : UK ▁MP s ▁ 1 9 9 2 – 1 9 9 7 ▁Category : 1 9 5 1 ▁birth s ▁Category :