Andrew Hardisty, the first ever Member of Parliament to take a salary based on his performance, has died. He was 56.
Mr Hardisty was elected to the seat of Shanklin South in the General Election on May 2010. Part of his personal manifesto was to only be paid on his attendance of the House of Commons and his participation in debates and votes.
However, due him attending only 25 days of house business, being called to speak just once and voting five times, he failed to earn enough money to keep up the rent on his London flat and pay for enough food to keep him alive.
"He was a principled politician and a nice guy." the Speaker of the House John Bercow said in a statement. "However, he was also a twat and his death from starvation proves this beyond doubt."
"The real irony is that had he stayed on the Isle of Wight and taken his basic MP's salary without making his idiotic pledges, he'd have owned the island by now." Mr Bercow continued.
An inquest is due to opened into Mr Hardisty's death next week, although a post mortem examination has already revealed that severe malnutrition and dehydration are the principle causes of death.
A writ for a by-election in his Shanklin South seat will be moved on the first day of Commons business in 2011.
