'Emmerdale' actor ponders political move

Emmerdale star John Middleton has revealed that he would consider standing as a Labour MP in the future.

The 56-year-old signed up to be a member of the Labour Party in 1982 and has been approached to take on a full-time political career on more than one occasion.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Middleton explained: "I have been asked to think about it many times but every time I have been in the middle of an Emmerdale contract. I do love my job now - who wouldn't - but I'd never say never.

"My mum and dad were both party members and even as a child I remember running between polling stations and committee rooms with numbers. You could definitely say it is in my blood. "

The actor, who plays vicar Ashley Thomas on the ITV1 soap, was speaking in Leeds yesterday as the Labour Party launched its Yorkshire election campaign.

On Labour's chances of beating the Tories at the polls on May 6, Middleton added: "We know we have a tough challenge but we're ready for them. We thumped them last time and we can thump them again."