Former independent MP Stuart Hayward has not endorsed Charles Spanswick's plans to run a slate of independent candidates in the coming elections.

Mr. Hayward made that clear in a statement released to the media yesterday after Mr. Spanswick claimed that he had his support for the idea.

"While the idea has merits in part and while I wish Mr. Spanswick well, I wish to declare for the record that I have had no discussion whatsoever with Mr. Spanswick about this idea. Consequently I know little about it, I don't fully understand it, I have not endorsed it, I am not part of it," the statement said.

"Mr. Spanswick might well assume, given my parliamentary record, that I would support his concept. However, he has done a disservice to me and to his own credibility by stating such an assumption as fact before talking with me."

Mr. Spanswick is looking for nine candidates - one for each parish - to contest the coming general elections and believes that if the electorate votes them into the House of Assembly the group can take over the Government.