David Cameron has appealed to ordinary voters to stand as prospective Tory MPs and help "clean up politics" in the aftermath of the expenses scandal.
As the number of MPs standing down continued to grow, he said he was looking to recruit people with no previous involvement in politics as Conservative candidates.
His call came amid deepening disillusionment with the mainstream parties at the centre of the expenses row and expectations of a massive Commons clearout at the next general election.
This weekend the Tory leader's former Parliamentary aide, Andrew MacKay, joined a series of MPs who have agreed to quit Parliament over their dubious expenses claims.
Further resignations are widely expected over the coming weeks as the parties review their MPs' claims in the light of the highly damaging revelations of the past fortnight.
Mr MacKay's MP wife, Julie Kirkbride, is already under pressure and facing constituents' calls to quit over her own expenses arrangements.
More MPs are expected to retire at the next election in response to the unprecedented levels of hostility towards Parliamentarians in general.
With signs of a surge in support for independent candidates and fringe parties in forthcoming polls, Mr Cameron said he wanted to enlist ordinary people with a genuine passion for public service.
The move is likely to anger many Conservatives already on the candidate list who have not yet been found a seat for the next general election.
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"They may not have had anything to do with the party before," he said. "But I'm saying, if you believe in public service, if you share our values, if you want to help us clean up politics, come and be a Conservative candidate. We want to open up the talent that is available."
