In brief: Paris Hilton furthers her presidential campaign with video

Paris Hilton has furthered her attempts to become what she calls the "fake president of the United States" by offering solutions to the nation's financial crisis via an interview with actor Martin Sheen (pictured with Hilton), who played the commander-in-chief in the long-running TV show The West Wing. In the two-minute clip (above) posted on the Funny Or Die website, she asks Sheen "How about helping the people who are losing their homes? Maybe lower the inflated interest rates so it's not impossible for them to pay their mortgage? I know it's not as much money for the banks, but it's better than no money at all. Just ask MC Hammer." Hammer, the former pop star, squandered his multi-million dollar fortune on private jets and luxury cars, and ended up going bankrupt with debts of almost $14 million..............Leona Lewis, the singer who rose to prominence via ITV's X Factor, has turned down a £1 million offer to perform at Harrods because it sells fur coats, of which she doesn't approve, according to the Times. She said recently: "I'm totally against animal cruelty. I don't have clothes, shoes or bags made from any animal products." Harrods, which last month received a protest from 400 antifur campaigners, declined to comment……….. Simply Red singer Mick Hucknall, who once donated £25,000 to the Labour Party, says he will not be giving money to Gordon Brown. He told the Daily Telegraph: "I've been shoved aside," adding bitterly: "Gordon Brown said he was going to get away from all that nonsense with famous people, but it wasn't long before he was mixing with people like Kylie Minogue and George Clooney"………… Noel Gallagher, whose band Oasis played a gig last night in Liverpool to mark the release of their new album Dig Out Your Soul, has labeled England as a "dump". Said Gallagher, 41: "People have this romantic image of England, you know. London is a fucking dump. It's full of crime, it's full of fucking tourists. It's traffic, it's pollution. I don't even know why I live here to be honest" ………….. Scottish poet Mick Imlah has won the prestigious Forward prize for poetry. The 52-year-old scooped the £10,000 award for his second collection, The Lost Leader. Amongst the poet's subjects are iconic figures as and Gordon Brown - the rugby player..........