SIR – As we approach the season of goodwill, and as I won’t be conducting any electioneering during the month of December, I firstly wanted to use this opportunity to wish the people of Worcester a peaceful Christmas.

Secondly, that through dedicated hard work and “putting public service before self” I wanted to reiterate my commitment to the people of Worcester, before, during and after the general election. Lastly, as many of Worcester’s constituents struggle to survive on salaries well below £40,000, and as a backbench MP’s salary is about £65,000 and there are proposals to raise it to £80,000, I invite the political contenders for the parliamentary seat of Worcester to show contrition to our would-be voters and match my pledge should I or they be elected, to refund at least £20,000 of their salaries to five frontline charities in the city. If elected, I will aim to live on a salary of about £40,000 a year and any surplus will be gift-aided back to five named charities.

Like all other working people, I will pay my mortgage from my salary and not from MPs’ expenses from the Westminster Fees Office.

Andrew Christian-Brookes
Independent parliamentary candidate for the city of Worcester.