Reg Keys
Former ambulance driver, Reg Keys is the father of a Royal Military policeman, Lance Corporal Tom Keys, 20, who was one of six Red Caps killed by an Iraqi mob in Majar al-Kabir in June 2003.
At the time that he announced he would be standing for Sedgefield, Reg Keys was 52 years old. Mr Keys is a founder member of the campaign group Military Families Against the War.
Mr Keys' campaign in Sedgefield is receiving the moral support of musician, Brian Eno, who together with former Independent MP, Martin Bell, accompanied Reg Keys as he kicked off his Sedgefield campaign on April 6.
Bob Clay, former Labour MP for Sunderland North, is acting as agent for Reg Keys.
Referring to the six Red Caps that were murdered, Mr Keys said:
"There were no medals or honour for them. There was no letter from Tony Blair. Instead, he managed to find time to write a letter of condolence for Ozzy Osbourne when he fell off his quad bike. But not to my son, who was shot 31 times. I can't help but think angrily about that, and about Tom's beautiful green eyes. He was four days short of his 21st birthday."
On the 31st March 2006, the Coroner brought in a verdict of unlawful killing in the inquest into the death of the six Red Caps: Cpl Simon Miller, Sgt Simon Hamilton-Jewell, Cpl Russell Aston, Cpl Paul Long, L/Cpl Benjamin McGowan Hyde, and L/Cpl Tom Keys - the son of Reg Keys. The BBC has an article on the inquest.
The Keys family are from Llanuwchllyn, Bala in North Wales.
This page is part of our Sedgefield 2005 section.