ARMED forces veterans will declare all-out war on mainstream politicians next month – by launching their own party. Five ex-squaddies aim to field 87 candidates at the next election on a mission to topple “morally deficient” and “self-serving careerist” MPs.

Former Army sergeant major Gavin Felton has joined forces with other ex-servicemen and like-minded activists to set up the Democrats and Veterans Party.

They have drawn up a manifesto which they believe will appeal to millions of “decent, patriotic people” with centrist views.And they hope to have 1,000 members on board when the new party is launched on February 9.

Other officials include Trevor Coult, who won the Military Cross in Iraq.

In their manifesto, which has been seen by The Sun on Sunday, the veterans say they want to unite decent civilians and ex-forces who love their country. It says: “We believe it’s the British people, not our self-serving elite, who are best placed to make decisions.

“We now have the means to guarantee real government by consent. We have a plan to implement this system across Britain.”

1 The party hope to gain an initial following in army towns Credit: Getty Images - Getty

Officials reckon they will have at least 1,000 members signed up within a week of thier launch. Funding will come from donations and £24-a-year membership fees.

Plans are so well advanced that the DVP says it could field 87 candidates if there was a snap election tomorrow. They will initially target constituencies with garrison towns or high populations of service personnel, such as Tidworth, Catterick, Aldershot and Colchester.

Mr Felton, who served in Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo and Rwanda during a 24-year Army career, said: “We have listened to the views of thousands of ordinary people who have told us they no longer have faith in the mainstream political parties. They feel let down by the expenses and sex scandals and are angry at the failed wars in Iraq and lack of support for our armed forces in Afghanistan.”

“Our aim is to bring democracy back to the people. There are about four million veterans in this country and we want to get their support.We are also there to represent everyone who works in frontline services such as the police, fire and ambulance. We will also seek to win the support of teachers and healthcare professionals and the common link among them is that they all feel disconnected from mainstream political parties.

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He added: “Everyone is welcome to join irrespective of colour or religion but w don’t want anyone from the far right or far left. We have a lot to do and a lot to learn. It will be a steep learning curve be we believe we can make a success of it.”

The DVP’s draft manifesto says the EU referendum result was an “extraordinary expression of disquiet” about the way we have done politics for the last 40 years.

It states: “We, like many in the UK, have grown tired of self-serving careerists. We’re tired of seeing a country that many fought, died and worked hard to defend and prosper being callously mistreated by a degenerate political class who have no concept of service, duty or patriotism and who are growing morally deficient.”