HE’S one of only three independent city council candidates – and he’s gambling his name will be a hit with undecided voters.

Rick Lambert believes the popularity of his 34- goal Saints namesake could propel him to a seat on the council chamber.

But Mr Lambert, 49, who was born Richard McQuillan but adopted the name from his stepfather, denies he will be misleading people to vote for him in Coxford.

“I’ve been known for 30 years as Lambert. It’s the name on my driving licence,” the father-of-one said.

“I thought with that name and all the attention Rickie Lambert has been getting I could use it as a springboard.”

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He said he was inspired to stand for public office after Esther Rantzen put her name into the ring in Luton.

The New Forest Childline founder announced her intention to stand against Luton South Labour MP Margaret Moran in the wake of the expenses scandal, when it emerged the MP claimed £22,500 to treat dry rot at a property in Southampton – 100 miles from her constituency.

Mr Lambert said politicians were too often “in it for themselves” and he wanted to “stand up for local people”.

The former scaffolder and ice cream man first entered the public eye when he came forward to back the Daily Echo’s anti-knife crime campaign as a victim of blade violence.

After leaving a neighbour’s Bonfire Night party in November 2005, he was attacked by two men and stabbed repeatedly. The knife penetrated his liver and lung and he was kept in hospital for six days.

His attackers were jailed for five years.

Mr Lambert said knife crime and antisocial behaviour were still a top priority for him, but he would also be campaigning for more grit bins, better roads, public transport and safer tower blocks.

“Most of the tower blocks need to be pulled down. They need to put people in decent housing,” he said.