Southend GP Dr Marimutha Velmurugan's election leaflet makes clear his anger that in the wake of the Westminster expenses scandal, 'our MPs appear to have no remorse, make no sincere apology and can arrogantly carry on as though nothing has happened'.

He says MPs' expenses claims are all the more unfair because 'as I sit in my surgery and battle to treat my patients I am aware that certain treatments are not available because of the cost to the taxpayer'.

A self-proclaimed 'conservative-minded' independent, Dr Velmurugan calls for tougher sentencing to deter criminals. Voters should back someone with a 'clean conscience' to give the country a fresh start, he argues.

His leaflet uses a 1653 quote in Parliament from Oliver Cromwell, denouncing MPs' greed: 'Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation. You were deputed here to get grievances redressed; are you not yourselves become the greatest grievance? Gold is your god, which of you has not bartered your conscience with bribes? Make haste ye venal slaves, be gone.'

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