Posted: Jul 25, 2006 09:36 am EST
(ThePoles.com) In February 2007 a cross-party team of British Parliament members will take part in a 400km dog-sledging trip across the Arctic regions of Finland, Sweden and Norway. The idea, some sort of cross between a company incentive trip and reality show has been launched by Westminster Challenge, a fundraising organization willing to put politicians literally on the move, pursuing charity goals.

Hot debates in below-zero environment

Liberal Democrats Jenny Willott and Nick Clegg, Tories Tobias Ellwood and Ed Vaizey, and Labour’s Emily Thornberry have already signed up. All of them are members of the British House of Commons - apparently willing to swap their posh Parliament offices for a slightly starker environment.

The team will travel on dog-sledge for nine days across northern Scandinavia, camping along the way, building igloos or using basic huts. While the trip may not go down as a milestone in Polar exploration history, both voters and the opposition may just enjoy watching their political representatives face a different kind of challenge - such as the bitter cold, lack of daylight and far from comfortable facilities they're used to back home. Daily reports and pictures will be published in Westminster Challenge’s website throughout the trip.

Getting ready

The team members are already being briefed on the upcoming trip. PM for Cardiff Central Jenny Willott already had a close encounter with the four-legged members of the team, as she wrote in the expedition's blog:

"The other day, meeting the dogs and wearing snow gear for the first time, albeit on a blazing summer day, made it feel as if it is all actually coming together," reported 31 year old Jenny Willott. “I think the dogs are going to be a challenge – they are extremely ‘friendly’, for which read ‘they jump up a lot’, and since I am not that tall and they are quite big, at times it is interesting! The fact that we haven’t left London and I’ve already been knocked over by a husky doesn’t bode well – I have a lot to learn!"

The sixth member - your choice

Organizers are also inviting the public to nominate another politician to join the expedition. "You can nominate any politician you like, by making a pledge to TWC," they stated. "We will publish a league table of the politicians who have attracted the most pledges and approach them to become the public choice on the Arctic Challenge."

It's unclear though, whether the chosen politician shall be a member of British parliament, or if 'international' candidates would also be accepted.

The Westminster Challenge aims to arrange an expedition every two years, with a new team of MPs participating in each challenge. The next challenges are likely to include a climb on Kilimanjaro and a Sahara desert trip.

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