A FIFE MP has admitted he is so determined to win the Westminster Mile which takes place in London later today he has asked the speaker of the House of Commons to ban one of his political rivals.

Liberal Democrat Willie Rennie came second to Labour’s Jim Murphy in the Sport Relief fund-raiser shortly after his win in the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election two years ago.

The East Renfrewshire MP won the footrace in a very respectable time of 5mins and 20sec, with Mr Rennie hot on his heels with a time of 5mins and 35sec.

The 40-year-old Fifer said, “I’m desperate to avenge my defeat from two years ago.

“He beat me by what I described in the chamber last night as a ‘smidgin’, but was actually 15 seconds.

“I was trying to encourage the speaker during an adjournment debate last night to bar him from the race.

“I told him I thought the Europe Minister had been taking part in too many debates lately and was looking a bit peaky.

“I said I thought the speaker should advise him not to take part in this race.”

There are usually about 60 or 70 MPs in the race and Mr Rennie said the competition was fierce.

“I think Jim is probably the fittest MP there,” he added.

Others in contention include Eric Joyce, the Labour MP for Falkirk, and Tom Brake, the Lib Dem MP for Carsholton and Wallington, who came third in the 2006 event.

The Westminster Mile is one of the curtain raisers for the main Sport Relief event on March 16.