REBORN politician Robert Kilroy-Silk today revealed his close friendship with Jack Straw wouldn't stop his new party trying to oust the Foreign Secretary at the General Election.

The former daytime television host -- now an MEP -- plans to field a candidate against Mr Straw, claiming the Blackburn MP's scalp would be a massive coup for his fledgling Veritas party.

Rossendale and Darwen is also in the party's sights after they received more responses from residents in the Labour constituency than any other, following the party's launch last month.

Mr Kilroy-Silk founded Veritas after becoming disillusioned with the leadership of the UK Independence Party, for which he won the East Midlands MEP seat last June.

During a visit to the North West earlier this week, Mr Kilroy-Silk told the Evening Telegraph: "We fully intend to stand in as many seats as possible, and Rossendale with Darwen, and Blackburn, are both exceptionally important to us.

"Blackburn is one we plan to contest because many of the issues we campaign on are relevent to foreign policy, so it makes sense to stand against the Foreign Secretary.

"Jack Straw is a close friend of mine, because we were Labour MPs together, and I'm sure our friendship will withstand this general election.

"Unfortunately, he represents a government I deplore and one which no-one can longer trust."

He added: "We have had a lot of support from the Rossendale with Darwen constituency, and we intend to stand there as well.

"Darwen with Rossendale is being treated as one of those constituencies which, if Labour lose, will show they are in real trouble.

In my opinion, they are in real trouble."

Mr Kilroy-Silk met with possible candidates at Astley Bank Hotel, Darwen, on Wednesday evening.

Veritas, Latin for truth, would promote honest politicians people could trust, Mr Kilroy-Silk told them.

In addition to the main political parties, Mr Straw already faces opposition from the Green Party, the BNP, and former Uzbekistan ambassador Craig Murray.