A one-time warden of Bevis Marks Synagogue is standing as a protest candidate in the election, having changed his name to None of the Above.

The person formerly known as Adam Osen became so disillusioned with politicians that he decided to have a go at becoming one himself. “There are only six independent MPs in Parliament and that’s terribly sad,” he said. Now the accountant turned decorator, 50, hopes to unseat Iain Duncan Smith, the Tory occupant of Chingford and Woodford Green.

None took his cue from the film Brewster’s Millions where a character stands for Mayor of New York as “None of the Above”.

But will he revert to his old name after the election? “I am going to win so I am not going to be able to change it back,” he said.