Esther Rantzen announced today that she may stand as an independent MP at the next election after becoming infuriated by the expenses scandal.

The television presenter said that she had received a “very warm” response to her idea of standing in Luton South where Margaret Moran, the sitting MP, has been criticised for her expenses claims.

Ms Rantzen said that she had not yet committed herself to running and would visit Luton to ask whether local people wanted her to stand. “I think the voters in Luton South have been horrified by what has been revealed about Margaret Moran, among of course many other MPs,” she said.

“It does seem extraordinary that someone who represents a constituency in Luton should be claiming for her dry rot to be repaired in Southampton.”

Ms Moran was reported to have switched her second home designation to the house she shares with her partner, 100 miles from her constituency, just days before spending £22,500 on the seafront property. She has agreed to repay the money.

Ms Rantzen suggested that, like Martin Bell at the 1997 General Election, she may stand as an anti-sleaze candidate. Mr Bell, a BBC war correspondent, defeated Neil Hamilton in Tatton after the Tory MP was accused of accepting cash to ask parliamentary questions on behalf of Mohamed al-Fayed.

“If Luton is keen on the idea, I might well go to Martin Bell and say, ‘Will you please give us a masterclass in how to do it?'" she said.

The former That’s Life presenter, who has become a prominent campaigner in recent years, said that she was struck by the tribalism in Westminster. “A few more independents and a few more people outside politics who would like to work hard and do their best might be a good thing,” she said. “Maybe the electorate would like a few of us in Parliament.”

Ms Rantzen said that she had never wanted to represent one of the major political parties because she wanted to retain her independence of thought on important issues.

“What it’s made me feel, as a floating voter myself, is that there may be a number of people who respect and admire our democratic institutions who would like to serve the country but have never been able to join one party more than another because we floating voters tend to make up our minds on the issues,” she said.

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