THE front man of Newport rappers Goldie Lookin Chain could soon be representing the people of Newport as a Labour councillor.

Rhys Hutchings, 35, aka Xain, has applied to stand as a candidate in next year’s council elections after becoming interested in the role while supporting the city mayor’s charity over the past year.

He said: “I have always fancied getting in and being able to make a difference - working for the people of Newport and making something happen - but I didn’t really realise it was an option.

“It’s an opportunity to give something back to Newport and to represent Newport but obviously we don’t know what will happen yet.”

Mr Hutchings, whose hits with GLC include ‘Your Misses is a Nutter’, said he hoped to appeal to all members of society, especially the younger generation, in a bid to make people’s voices heard.

He said: “A lot of people think politics is for older people and retired people who have got bored with playing golf. It’s for the future, I would be working for the people of Newport to make it a better place.”

Labour leader Bob Bright said he was “delighted” with the breadth of candidates this year and said Mr Hutchings had an “extremely good chance of being selected and elected”.

Cllr Allan Morris said he too was thrilled with Mr Hutchings application and the wide array of ages, genders and backgrounds of this year’s applicants in general.

Newport mayor Cllr Bill Langsford, who has worked closely with GLC for many fundraising events in aid of his chosen charity Tenovus, said Mr Hutchings would be a great candidate.

He said: “When I heard he was going to apply I thought good for him. From my point of view we need to get younger people involved.”

Labour party branch members in each ward will chose candidates from the list of applicants in the coming weeks before they will start campaigning ahead of next year’s election.

Mr Hutchings shot to fame in 2003 as part of the tracksuit-wearing, hip-hop band GLC whose witty, anecdotal songs about life in Newport won them an army of fans.