Yahoo News Newcastle election candidate wears crown and yellow robe on trip to Parliament after befriending MP
An eccentric candidate who had hoped to become the nation’s “first democratically elected king” has made his way to Westminster, despite falling short in last month’s General Election.
Clad in his crown and bright yellow robe, King Teare was invited down to the Houses of Parliament after befriending new Newcastle East and Wallsend MP Mary Glindon. The pair met at the election night count on July 4, where King Teare was standing as an independent candidate in the neighbouring Newcastle North constituency and drew plenty of attention both in the count hall and from TV viewers thanks to his colourful attire.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the Labour MP, who switched seats after her old North Tyneside constituency was abolished, took a “genuine interest” in his campaign and stayed true to an offer to invite him to Parliament. His trip to the epicentre of British politics, which happily coincided with his birthday on July 30, saw him turn plenty of heads in the nation’s corridors of power too.
The 32-year-old theatre performer and PhD student described how security guards jokingly addressed him as “your majesty” – a welcome relief after he had questioned his own decision to wear a crown, albeit one purchased from Etsy, inside Parliament and whether he could be mistaken as someone seeking to usurp the King.
Mrs Glindon added: “We weren’t sure about having someone come into the Palace of Westminster wearing a crown. But we got in touch with the serjeant at arms and they said as long as the crown goes through the security scanner it would be fine!”
King Teare, whose real name is Kim Tate, ran for election under his stage name and insisted that his presence on the ballot was not as a “novelty” candidate despite his eye-catching dress sense. He advocated for policies including reducing homelessness and spoke regularly about his ambition to encourage the public to become more engaged in political debate and more involved in problem-solving.
Mrs Glindon took him on a tour of Westminster, including the Commons and the Lords, and they discussed his ideas about the use of theatrical performance to encourage public debate on important issues. The MP told the LDRS that she found him “intellectual and very easy to talk to about our communities and how we can help people to have a say”.
King Teare added: “I asked her about the idea of having a third chamber in Parliament because one of the things I would propose is a third House which would have a more participatory approach, with people who have more lived experience of issues. It does seem like people have genuinely been interested in what I have to say. It was a fantastic experience.
“I had never been to Parliament before and to go on my birthday was a real treat. I am a bit of a nerd about politics so I really enjoyed it, and I also want to help people. I have been thinking about how I can best serve people and get myself involved. I am still working out how best to do that while balancing it with my PhD.”
King Teare polled 310 votes in the Newcastle North constituency, finishing sixth in a field of seven candidates as Labour’s Catherine McKinnell comfortably held the seat.
