LOCAL politician Simon Killane has set his sights on toppling North Wiltshire’s long standing Conservative MP James Gray.

The Independent Wiltshire councillor has launched an internet campaign with the aim of becoming “the first true people's MP ever elected in the county.”

Father-of-three Mr Killane, a Malmesbury town and Wiltshire councillor, is using a website to stake a claim as the next member for what is a traditionally Tory constituency.

On www.thepeoplesrep.co.uk he claims: “I will transform the way elected representation works by going ‘back to the basics’ of what it means to democratically represent the people.”

He said that the internet, social media and new campaign funding methods had for the first time created “a unique opportunity” for independent politicians to challenge the party system.

Former Dyson worker Mr Killane, a Malmesbury resident for 18 years, currently works as a product designer for a commercial vending and refrigeration equipment manufacturer.

He added: “With your help I will be the MP that you never had but always wanted. I see myself as the true embodiment of the people’s representative.”

Mr Gray has been North Wiltshire’s MP since 1997 and in the 2010 General Election swept home with a 7,483 majority, winning 25,114 votes - more than half the 48,699 poll.