FORMER Welsh rugby international Jeremy Pugh is hoping to be elected to the Welsh Assembly - but says he has no wish to be a politician.

The Builth Wells-born-and-bred businessman is standing for the Abolish the Welsh Assembly party.

He hopes to become one of the four AMs who will be elected to represent the Mid and West Wales region but insisted: "I’m not standing to be a politician. I’m standing because I think someone has got to stand up for the people and against the waste that is going on."

The former prop, who won three caps for Wales in the 1980s, has promised if elected to give half his salary away and said standing to abolish the National Assembly for Wales isn’t unpatriotic.

He said: "If I’m elected I will give 50% of the salary to the Wales Air Ambulance.

"I’m not standing to be anti-Welsh. Both my children learned through the medium of Welsh and if you cut me in half you would see Builth on one side and Wales on the other."

The 56-year-old, who is still involved in rugby as the chairman of Builth Wells RFC and assistant coach to the first team, said he believes the Assembly is responsible for failing to properly manage the £15bn budget it receives from the Westminster Government to provide public services in Wales.

"The Assembly is passing legislation but they are not passing the money on to the councils.

"They are asking the councils to do the impossible. Only Jesus fed the multitude and I don’t think any of our council chief executives come close to that bracket.

"They can’t carry on like they are. Look at the cut backs Powys council are making. They can’t do anymore as they do not have the finances and resources. I feel for those who work for the councils.

"In the six weeks I’ve made it known I would be putting my name forward I’ve not had one person stand up and disagree with me.

"I’m self funding and I’ve paid all my own way. I’m not a person of huge resources but I passionately believe you’ve got to stand up for what you believe in."

The Assembly first sat in 1999, having been established by a referendum shortly after the Labour government came into power in 1997. Before devolution Welsh public services, including education, health and local government, were controlled by the Welsh Office a department of the Westminster government.

The Welsh Office, which remains a department of the UK government with a Welsh Secretary who is a member of the cabinet, was created in the 1960s.

Mr Pugh said: "I would like to see the end of the Welsh Assembly and see things go back to the old Welsh Office."

Though devolution was approved in a referendum, with a further referendum in 2011 granting the body law making powers, Mr Pugh said his party will not just oppose any further attempts at devolving power to Cardiff Bay but the continued existence of the body.

A further referendum had been proposed to grant powers over income tax to the Assembly but the UK Government has said it is willing to devolve the responsibility without asking the public. The Westminster Government is currently drawing up further devolution legislation.

Mr Pugh said: "Every time they ask for new legislation or a referendum for new powers we will want a referendum to get rid of them."

Farmer Jonathon Harrington, from Tregoyd, near Talgarth, who is a co-founder of the the party and who will stand in North Wales, said: "We are rather pleased with Jeremy. We were looking for a high profile candidate and someone like Jeremy is a bit of a coup."

The Mid and West Wales region is made up of eight constituencies and a total of 12 parties, who must list their candidates in preference order, are standing on the regional list.

There are five regions across Wales each electing four AMs using a complicated form of proportional representation that compensates parties that fail to win first past the post constituency seats in the region.

Labour currently holds two of the four Mid and West Wales seats with the Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru holding one each.

Ukip’s top candidate is former Conservative MP Neil Hamilton and polls have shown the party could win one of the four seats.

Plaid’s Simon Thomas and Liberal Democrat William Powell, from Talgarth, retain top seat on their party lists. Joyce Watson also keeps hold of top spot on the Labour list but Rebecca Evans is standing for a constituency seat instead. Former European Parliament Member Eluned Morgan is hoping to be elected from second place on the Labour list.

The Abolish the Welsh Assembly party has nominated four candidates all from the Builth Wells and Llandrindod Wells area while former Llandrindod mayor Jeff Green and his wife Susan are again standing for the Welsh Christian Party.

Another party with a Breconshire resident as its top candidate is the Monster Raving Loony Party.

Bernice Benton, of Llanwrtyd Wells, who in 2012 stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate in the Powys County Council election, is standing as Lady Lily The Pink.

The full list of candidates standing for the Mid and West Wales region are Abolish the Welsh Assembly; Association of Welsh Local Independents; Welsh Conservatives; People First; Plaid Cymru; The Official Monster Raving Loony Party; Ukip Wales; Wales Green Party; Welsh Christian Party; Welsh Communist Party; Welsh Labour; Welsh Liberal Democrats.

The elections are held on Thursday, May 5 and voters must be registered by Monday, April 18. Anyone not yet registered to vote can do so at the government’s website https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote