MP Derek Wyatt is predicting a record number of MPs are to quit Parliament over reorganisation to their expenses.

He says MPs are underpaid for the work they do and people view them as “glorified parish councillors”.

Mr Wyatt, who is to step down himself at the next election, feels the work of MPs is vastly misunderstood and undervalued.

Talking as plans to curb expenses were announced on Wednesday, he said: “My experience has been that constituents expect you to be in the constituency eight days a week and then expect you to be in Parliament for another eight days a week.

"Nobody understands the 80-100 hours a week we put in on behalf of our constituents.

“MPs should not have any expenses but a decent salary and then all this would go away.

"MPs based inside the M25 should receive £85,000 and those outside the M25 should receive £95,000; if we had had the correct amounts recommended since Edward Heath and Margaret Thatcher introduced the various elements of expenses, then our salaries would be about £120,000 a year.

“I think a record number of MPs will now stand down and this will weaken our democracy as so many entering at the next election have little or no national understanding.

“So many seem to think being an MP is like being a glorified parish councillor, running around sorting rubbish bins, bus services and the like when there are elected county and borough councillors responsible for these activities.

"Our job is to represent constituents in Parliament and not the other way around.

“I have enabled more than £350m of inward investment into the constituency and I could not have done this commuting on a daily basis or renting a flat.

“In fact I wouldn’t have stood if that was the case in 1995 when I won the nomination for the seat.

"Without a proper pay structure with no expenses and the freedom to employ your family, so long as they are competent, then as I have hinted, more MPs will consider their position.”