WOULD-be MPs for Worcester will sign a pledge in the city today with a promise to publish details of their expenses if they get elected.

Prospective parliamentary candidates Robin Walker, Conservative, and Louis Stephen, Green Party, have agreed to fight a “clean campaign” in the run-up to the next general election.

Worcester’s Labour MP Mike Foster said he will not be signing up to it because he believes it is a “gimmick”.

Mr Walker said: “If elected I’m not planning to bend the rules or break the law, dodge taxes or take advantage of my position.”

Mr Stephen, who came up with pledge after seeing one organised in a Norwich by-election, said he thought it would help distance those who sign up to it from “sleaze and scandal”.

“We are going to be fighting each other of the next few months but we will be fighting on policies and not individual accusations,” he said.

The pledge, which will be signed outside Worcester’s Guildhall at 2pm today, states that candidates will tell the truth about what they and others stand for, refrain from personal attacks, only make honest and reasonable promises, be honest about public spending, and to take money only from organisations and individuals “whose motives in giving us money we do not have reason to suspect”.

If elected the pledge states the candidate will also publish all personal and office expenses online, all donations of more than £1,000, and to never claim for food, furniture or household goods, among other promises.

Mr Foster said he would not sign the pledge because he still had question marks over money the Conservatives accepted from a Texan businessman via his American company’s UK subsidiary, something Mr Walker said he was satisfied was above board.

Mr Foster also claimed the Green Party was trying to make “dirty deals” with his Labour party but Mr Stephen denied accusations they were urging Labour not to stand in the Cathedral ward.