A WESTHOUGHTON artist who has not voted for 25 years is standing for election.

Andrew Smith will be standing on behalf of his own Just Party for the Bolton West parliamentary seat and has produced a 13 foot painting featuring the faces of famous figures including Margaret Thatcher, Russell Brand and even Jimmy Saville, which he is using as his election manifesto.

The 52-year-old father of three said he wants to “rewire” the current democratic system and has promised not to present any political policies or opinions — only “ethical guidelines.”

Speaking about his decision to enter the political arena, Mr Smith, who is currently an MA Fine Art student at the University of Bolton, said: “Tutors had remarked that my work consistently displayed a political dimension and having not voted for 25 years I began to ask myself why I had I had not felt the need to engage with the existing party political paradigm and more importantly why the political establishment was apparently unconcerned with the general decline in public participation.

“On reflection, there appeared to be only one way to find an answer — to investigate and experience the machinations of the democratic process by being and offering the change

I want to see in Bolton West — an area I know and love.”

Mr Smith, a former community artist, said he would make a host of changes if he were elected as an MP.

He said: “The industrial model of a representative democracy is no longer fit for purpose.

“We need to embrace new communication technology to create a more inclusive and organic consensus that truly reflects the community's thoughts and wishes — I would also aim to renegotiate my MP's salary down to the level of the Living Wage.”

His manifesto painting, which will be exhibited in the Castlefield Gallery in Manchester after the election, is intended to ask questions about those who society considers leaders and icons.

He said: “I’m asking if we should really be putting our faith in one person — or one political party.”

He said his key ideas include the fact an MP should be a “servant of the community” and answerable only to voters.

He added: “That servant should be politically neutral and have total operational transparency — seeking community consensus on all legislation.”

Bolton West is a key marginal seat for both the Labour party and the Conservatives but Mr Smith is hoping he can convince people to make a change in May.

He said: “The challenges for our time are different and may be difficult to meet — but I believe in my heart we have to try.”