NIGEL Evans MP swapped the greasy pole of politics for the yellow brick road of stage performance.

The Ribble Valley Tory, dressed all in blue, took part in a comedy sketch about politicians looking for a leader during the Parliamentary Palace of Varieties Show at Westminster.

Called The Wizard of Iz', Mr Evans was looking for a leader with a brain.

London Labour MP Stephen Pound, dressed in a red leotard like London Respect MP George Galloway wore in Celebrity Big Brother, was looking for a leader with a heart.

And in a spoof of The Wizard of Oz', Welsh Liberal Democrat Lembit Opik, wearing the party's orange, was looking for a leader with courage.

Behind a screen was the Wizard of Iz, played by journalist Jonathan Izaby, who impersonated the real party leaders and other senior politicians.

Mr Evans said afterwards: "It was a lot of fun and it went down very well indeed. But there was no way I would have worn a leotard."

The show was in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief.