A disability rights campaigner has called for MPs to be allowed to job share, after being rejected as a prospective parliamentary candidate in next month's general election.

Adam Lotun, 52, from Knollmead, Tolworth, wrote to the Electoral Commission to make a formal request to stand as an independent in Hampstead and Kilburn.

He informed the body he would have to share the role with two others due to health reasons.

But a response back from the Electoral Commission said: "Our view is that the law does not allow two or more candidates to stand jointly for election as an MP."

It cited the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 and the Representation of the People Act 1983, which stated only one candidate can stand as an MP.

The letter invited Mr Lotun to raise the matter with the Cabinet Office, which is responsible for electoral law.

Father-of-three Mr Lotun said: "It seems that equality is allowed everywhere apart from the House of Commons. It makes a mockery of the process.

"It stigmatises people from being able to enter politics because of any circumstances they may have.

"It reinforces that politics is for the rich and famous. The system is old. It is not keeping with the times. These rules and regulations need to change."

In 2012, Mr Lotun stood in the Corby byelection for the Democracy 2015 party, which aims get ordinary members of the public into parliament.

He finished second to last with 35 votes, and lost his £500 deposit.

Mr Lotun said standing in the byelection had made him realise the sheer workload involved. Job sharing would allow him to represent disabled community members without being a "martyr", he added.

Former Liberal Democrat Kingston and Surbiton MP Edward Davey, who has a disabled child, said: "We must do far more to support disabled people who want to run in public office.

"But what I am not convinced about is that a MP's job could be done as a job share because voters need to be able to hold someone to account."