Blur drummer Rowntree running for office

Dave Rowntree, the drummer for the band Blur and owner of an animation production house, reportedly is set to run for political office in England.

The Times of London said Rowntree will run as a Labor candidate for a Cities of London and Westminster seat in the next general election.

The 43-year-old musician and longtime Labor Party member lost his bid to become a London council member last summer, during a by-election in Marylebone, the Times said.

Rowntree has said he would like to see stronger representation for the poor, as well as greater involvement of young people in politics and a new governmental approach to drug issues.

We are about to have a whole generation of non-voters, the newspaper quoted him as saying.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International