Public faith in politicians may be at an all-time low following the expenses scandal, but one candidate is proving his virtue by promising to donate £1,000 a month of his MP salary to charity, should he be elected.

Howard Thomas, founder of the Common Sense Party, is a metalworker by trade and is standing in Reading West.

He told Get Reading: “Should the remarkable actually happen and the voters of Reading West elect me as their MP I shall donate £1,000 of the salary each month to a reputable local charity.

“I would nominate three charities each month and allow the public to vote on our website for the destination of the cash.

“Having done this there would still be a perfectly adequate income to live on.”

Thomas formed the party in 2003 "with the idea of using public opinion to formulate the polices, therefore truly representing the people of the UK", and campaigns in a car and boat dressed up to look like a yellow submarine (pictured).