OUTRAGE at the MPs expenses scandal led John Meropoulos to stand as a candidate for UKIP.

Canadian born Mr Meropoulos has lived in the UK since completing his Master of Arts degree from the University of Durham in the early 1990s.

As a Royal Navy reservist he has served in Iraq with the 1 Battalion, The Welsh Guards and in Afghanistan supporting 3 Commando Brigade on six month operational tours.

He said: "The reason I decided to become a UKIP PPC was the expenses scandal of last May.

"I decided that if I wanted to change things, it was no good just complaining but I would have to throw my hat in the ring".

Mr Meropolous is a member of the chartered institute of marketing and a director of his own market research company, which works in the global dairy industry. His work has taken him around the world.

A former Conservative Party member, he resigned and joined UKIP in 2004.

He said: “I believe in a low tax, low government spend economy. Our party is the only one that is advocating reducing the role government has in our lives. Whether it is our flat tax policy of 0% income tax on the first £11,500 earned or ensuring that the balance swings away from the failed old political parties desire to keep increasing the size of government, UKIP offers the chance to free us and regain control over our own lives.”