They may not fit the bill for every music fan but these parliamentary rockers are out to prove they are a class act.
The world’s only rock band made up entirely of current and former MPs are setting their sights on conquering Eurovision.
In a rare display of cross-party consensus on Europe, SNP and Perthshire MP Pete Wishart, Tory MP Sir Greg Knight, Labour shadow minister Kevin Brennan and former Labour MP Ian Cawsey have announced their bid as MP4 to become the UK candidate for Eurovision 2016.
Keyboard player Mr Wishart is no stranger to entertaining crowds across Europe, having tickled the ivories for Celtic rock band Runrig for 15 years.
He said politicians taking to the stage is a natural progression for a contest that has become dominated by countries voting for their political allies.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=8EdAbSF_MPY%3Frel%3D0
Mr Wishart told The Courier: “We thought that given that Eurovision has long been decided along political lines it would be better if politicians got up there and made the case. We can’t do any worse than some of the acts we’ve seen before.
“This is a cross-party group on a difficult issue like Europe and I have no problem at all with sharing the stage. In true rock and roll tradition all that matters is the music and we leave the politics out of it when we plug in those amps.”
Mr Wishart, who represented North Tayside before becoming Perth and North Perthshire’s MP in 2005, has promised to bring the trophy on a tour of Courier Country if they are triumphant, in what he says will be reminiscent of the homecoming of Scotland’s undefeated World Cup heroes in 1974.
But MP4 have to win the backing of the British public before they can even think about booking their tickets for the final in Stockholm in May.
Guy Freeman, editor of special events for the BBC, said this year’s search for a Eurovision song will be the biggest undertaken since the event started in the 1950s.
“With input from key industry figures and fan associations, plus with the public having the final say, we are looking forward to seeing a true People’s Eurovision entry representing the UK at next year’s competition in Sweden,” he said.
Performers who have represented the UK at Eurovision in the past include Blue, Engelbert Humperdinck and Gina G.
The last time a UK act was successful was in 1997 with Katrina and the Waves’ Love Shine a Light. Since then the UK has come last three times.