VANESSA REDGRAVE - VANESSA REDGRAVE LAUNCHES HUMAN RIGHTS PARTY

OSCAR-winning actress VANESSA REDGRAVE has launched a new British political party devoted to human rights.

The 67-year-old HOWARDS END star fronted the party yesterday (27NOV04) along with her brother and the father of a Guantanamo Bay detainee.

Titled THE PEACE AND PROGRESS PARTY, the organization aims to field candidates and endorse politicians with strong human rights records in the next general election.

Vanessa's brother CORIN REDGRAVE says, "Our goal is to ring the alarm bells about the human rights abuses our government is sanctioning, and to act as a focus for people who want to stand up against them."

Political activist Corin suggested four British prisoners at Guantanamo Bay could run as party candidates, as a means of protesting against their detention and the alleged human rights abuses at the prison on a US naval base in Cuba.

Corin says, "It could be one highly effective way of sending a message through the polls."