David Kirwan

Listen to David Kirwan’s biography

On Tuesday, May 19, 2009, I held a press conference at my offices in Moreton to announce my decision to stand as Prospective Independent MP for Wirral West at the next General Election.

During the coming weeks I will be outlining my ideas and views on many issues of real significance to people living in this constituency.

However, the statement below, which I read out at my press conference, hopefully demonstrates the anger I feel on your behalf and which prompted me to stand for Parliament.

Press Statement - May 19, 2009

“In little more than a week the reputation of our famous Parliament has been left in tatters thanks to the greed and criminality of our MPs.

No party has been spared as tawdry revelation upon tawdry revelation has been exposed by the media.

Politicians have been held in low esteem for as long as one can remember.

But the last week has ensured that politicians from our three mainstream parties are not only disliked, they are now held in utter contempt by the British public.

Opinion polls conducted since the expenses scandal exploded on to the front pages show two things.

Firstly, that Gordon Brown’s Government is limping not just from one day to the next, but literally minute to minute. The Labour Party may even be mortally wounded.

Secondly, all the signs are that the next General Election could result in the lowest ever voter turnout.

It is against this background that I today announce that I will be standing as an Independent Parliamentary Candidate in Wirral West.

By putting myself up for election, I am giving the voters of this constituency a very clear choice.

They can vote for me, a local businessman and Independent councillor as appalled as they are by the sleaze which has rocked our Parliament to its very foundations.

Or they can continue to support candidates from the three mainstream parties, none of whom we will ever be able to trust again.

To this end, I am also able to announce today that if elected, I will not take a single penny in expenses other than covering the cost of travel from Wirral to Westminster.

I hope this sends the clearest possible signal that as your Independent MP for Wirral West I will devote myself 100 per cent to restoring my constituents’ faith in our democratic system.

As someone who has lived and breathed this constituency for many years, I will work tirelessly to promote the issues that matter most to you.

There will be no claims for fixing leaks under tennis courts, repairing moats, non existent mortgages and bags of manure.

There will be no “flipping” of homes or claims on two second homes. There won’t even be claims for kettles, televisions and trouser presses.

If by throwing my hat into the ring I can make a small contribution towards the huge task of cleaning up our Parliament, then I will have been a cause for good.

I hope too my actions encourage other similarly disgusted people from all walks of life to seek to challenge the status quo in their constituencies the length and breadth of Britain.

The events of the last week and a half ensure that our three principal parties no longer have a God given right to governing our country.

They have surrendered that right by the appalling breach of public trust of which they have been found collectively guilty.

I look forward to the fight ahead and to a healthy debate on the issues affecting the hard working people of this constituency who I believe are ready to reject the tired, discredited messages of our mainstream parties.”