” Like so many people across Bristol, I have been disgusted and dismayed at the revelations of how some MPs have been spending our money. Politics should be about duty and public service. That’s why I went into politics and am standing to be your MP – to serve.

But some of the people who were supposed to be serving the public interests, were found fleecing the public purse; some within the rules, some bending the rules, some possibly breaking the law. That is a terrible abuse of public trust.

How did things go so wrong? Yes, the rules were inadequate and need changing. But it’s more than that. Being an MP is about duty, service and integrity, whatever the rules. So I’m making the following pledges to you now, like a contract between us, to demonstrate the kind of MP I will be if you elect me.

As the Prospective MP for Bristol North West, I promise to:

• Act at all times as your MP in the spirit of public service and integrity, not for individual gain
• Publish on my website details of all my personal and office expenses incurred as your Member of Parliament
• Appoint a firm of independent auditors to approve annually my expenses accounts
• Open up my unedited expenses claims annually to local newspapers
• Never claim for my groceries, household furniture or goods
• Meet my own tax liabilities without claiming them from the taxpayer
• Publicly advertise all jobs for my office
• Not make capital gains at the expense of the tax payer

These are my pledges to you. And if you elect me and I break any of these pledges, it is right that you hold me to account at the ballot box.

Yours sincerely,

Charlotte Leslie