SWINDON'S MPs should only be paid the average wage of workers in their constituency, according to one election candidate.

That could mean slashing their salaries by more than half and leaving about £30,000 to spend in the community each year instead.

Andy Newman, who will stand for the Socialist Alliance against Michael Wills in North Swindon at the next election, also thinks the MPs should cut back on their expenses claims.

The call comes after new figures revealed Swindon's MPs claimed more than £110,000 each in expenses last year, on top of their £57,485 salaries.

Mr Newman, 44, said he would expect any Labour MP to only claim an average wage.

"It has been a traditional policy of many socialist members of Parliament for 80 years," he said.

"In principle all Labour MPs should do this because they are supposed to represent the workers, so it is a challenge to Michael Wills.

"Part of the reason we are standing is because we feel Michael Wills has moved a long way away from the values of old Labour."

If elected, Mr Newman says he would take the average wage of a North Swindon worker, which he estimates as between £20,000 and £24,000 considerably less than the wage he currently earns as a telecoms engineer.

He says he would then donate the rest of the salary to help the people of North Swindon.

"The amount of money which is involved doesn't make any difference at all if you then just leave it with the Government," he said.

"But it would if you spent it for the benefit of the community, for example it would be enough to help employ a community worker."

Mr Newman also wants to see the size of MPs' expenses claims fall.

"I think the money they are claiming is on the high side," he said.

"What I think is legitimate is running an office in the constituency.

"But I don't think it is legitimate that they should spend money promoting themselves for re-election."

Mr Wills was not available for comment.

Isabel Field