Just under two weeks ago, I suggested in a piece for LabourList that Iran had sent a wake up call to the West on its hostile foreign policy and alleged nuclear weapons programme. Today, evidence has surfaced to suggest that the world should indeed be alarmed at Iran’s nuclear plans, and places the military option firmly in the minds of Western politicians.

The Times has supposedly obtained confidential documents which outline a multi-year plan to test a specific component required to trigger an atomic explosion, the “neutron initiator”. If it weren’t for the seriousness of the escalating stand-off over Iran’s nuclear programme, perhaps we would find it amusing that gadgets which would sound outlandish even in a James Bond film are making headlines in our major newspapers. Worryingly though, if this evidence is credible, it points to solid plans by the Iranian regime to develop nuclear weapons in the immediate future.

According to David Albright, a respected American physicist interview by The Times, there isn’t a use for the neutron initiator device except to trigger the explosion of a nuclear bomb.

Western powers have been patient and lenient in their approach to Iran. The past few years have seen round upon round of fruitless negotiation, and a concerted effort by the government in Tehran to hide their efforts to build a weapon. This isn’t the first time that new evidence has surfaced to contradict Iran’s claims to be building a peaceful nuclear programme; just a few months ago intelligence showed that a secret uranium enrichment plant had been constructed near Qom, some 200km from Tehran. So far it would seem, the Iranians have been skilful in taking advantage of relative weakness in the US, the UK and other major powers, due to the collective reluctance to intervene so soon after tiring efforts in Afghanistan & Iraq, and with an ongoing war in Afghanistan drawing on the resources of Western armed forces and finance ministries.

As I said in my previous piece, it’s time for Washington DC and London (and in an ideal world, Paris, Berlin, Beijing & Moscow) to pay more attention to this developing situation, and now in light of this evidence, to step up the effort to contain Iran’s nuclear programme. It’s looking less and less likely that the programme is for peaceful energy use only, and surely it’s better to be safe than sorry. I for one don’t want to wake up in a few months to breaking news that a nuclear bomb has been tested by one of the world’s least trustworthy countries, which has openly stated its hostility to other countries in the region.

Let’s hope that despite his recent “pre-emptive” Nobel Peace Prize, President Obama realises that now is the time to get tough on Tehran.

Last night I had my first opportunity to meet Labour members in Derby North. I had a really nice evening, and spent two and half hours talking to members about different issues, learning what they are looking for in a candidate and what issues are important to them. Sadly, as is often the case everywhere across the UK, local Labour membership has fallen. But a good few people turned out yesterday and that was a good sign (considering Derby County were playing a match at the same time!).

The next stage of the process is the short-listing, and the results should be known by December 18th. I’m very much looking forward to returning to Derby to talk to more members. My letter to every member in the constituency is going in the post today, which will add to the rather large pile of reading materials that the poor Derby North members have for this weekend! There were 15 candidates in total last night, including some very impressive competition from around the country.

Ultimately, if Derby North is to stay Labour at the next election, and at the moment that isn’t a certainty, Derby North needs to get out the sizeable youth vote in the area. Derby is a university city so there are large numbers of young people who have the option to vote. I’m standing as the young candidate in order to capture that vote, as well as the votes of older people. Philippa Latimer pointed out a couple of days ago that only 37% of 18-24 year olds voted at the 2005 general election, compared to 48% for the next age group up. If the difference between losing the seat could be 0.5-1% of the vote, then getting a few hundred more 18-24 year olds to the ballot box could make all the difference.

Some of you might have known this for a little while, but today I officially launch my bid to become Labour’s parliamentary candidate for the Derby North constituency in the East Midlands. I have strong family connections to the area – in fact the whole of my mum’s family comes from there and goes back generations in the city. I myself lived for a period just a few miles from the city.

I want to get into politics because I still believe in the power of Parliament & government to make a difference in people’s lives. My life hasn’t been the easiest, but I have seen first-hand the difference the Labour Government has made to millions in this country. Derby North will be a bell-weather seat at the next general election: it is in fact the seat that David Cameron will need to take to have an outright majority. I want to bring my relative youth, my energy and vigour, fresh ideas and innovative online campaigning experience to the table in Derby North to ensure that we don’t give Cameron the win he so sorely wants.

This week I will meet Labour members in the constituency, and my letter to members is in the post. I have also launched my website at http://www.lukeforderby.co.uk, where you can find out more about me and get my contact details, as well as follow the campaign as it happens.

This is an exciting time for me, and I hope to at least add something valuable to the debate on who replaces the long-serving Labour MP, Bob Laxton.