A GWENT vicar pledging to fight for "Christian values" is among 90 candidates standing in Gwent at the Assembly elections next month.

The rector of Ebbw Vale, the Reverend Geoff Waggett, is one of four candidates put forward by the newly-formed Welsh Christian Party for the South Wales East regional seat on May 3.

Mr Waggett says he - along with fellow party candidates Jeff Green, the party chairman who runs a Christian hotel at Llandrindod Wells and lay members Peter Watkins and Richard Patching - will be fighting for Christian and family values.

"I have decided to stand as I believe we need to see a greater importance of godly morals," he said.

Mr Waggett has previously served on Afon Valley Community Council while his father Jim Waggett was a long-standing Newport Labour councillor.

Once a Labour Party member, Mr Waggett has since given his backing to Trish Law but decided not to put himself forward to stand for her People's Voice party because, he says, the Welsh Christians' values best reflect his own beliefs. None of the party's money comes from the church, funding instead coming from donations.

A spokeswoman for the Church in Wales said Reverend Waggett had informed the Bishop of Monmouth, the Right Reverend Dominic Walker before announcing his decision to stand.

She said: "We would not have a view on that particular party."

There are also 10 English Democrats on the South Wales East list, and three more standing in Gwent constituencies, in Monmouth, Newport East and Newport West.

The full list of candidates was released yesterday - 59 candidiates on the South Wales East regional list alone from 11 parties including commmunist, Socialist Labour and British National Party candidates.

Cardiff University Profesor Kevin Morgan, who has been a commentator on devolution since the Assembly's inception, says the sheer number and diversity of candidiates on the list has been encouraged by the proportional representation vote on the list seats - a view echoed by Kay Jenkins, head of the Electroal Commission for Wales.

Professor Morgan added that the success of People's Voice in Blaenau Gwent had also encouraged small, well-organised groups to stand.

Abersychan scientist and campaigner Dr John Cox is also standing in the regional seat, for the Socialist Labour Party.

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ENGLISH VOICE IN ELECTIONS ROBIN Tilbrook, chairman of the English Democrats, formed in 2002, said the party was standing on a ticket calling for a referendum on whether the "old county" of Monmouthshire, including Newport and Torfaen, should remain in Wales.

He said the number of candidates put forward by the party was "to show we are serious".