Overview of the challenge from smaller parties
Financial Times – Rising support unlikely to free fringe players from sidelines: Jack Straw, the foreign secretary, faces a challenge from Craig Murray, the former ambassador to Uzbekistan, suspended for speaking out about human rights abuses, who is standing for Respect in Blackburn.
NB – Craig is standing as an Independent candidate, and is not affiliated with any political party, although he welcomes the support he has had from Respect.