ESSEX Tory candidates are being urged to target celebrities and aristocrats to raise “at least” three times the amount of cash they are allowed to spend on campaigns.

As the issue of MPs’ expenses still dominates headlines, it has emerged a guidebook for candidates, called the Essex War Book, tells Parliamentary candidates to set a donations target of “at least three times your legal maximum”.

Prospective MPs can only spend a set amount in the 17 working days before an election, based on the number of constituents. It is usually around £12,000 to £14,000 per election.

The war book, seen by the Echo, urges candidates to press for much more. However, officials at the East of England Conservatives, which produced the document, said it would never overspend and would carry over any extra cash to fight future elections.

The document, printed when the Tories believed Gordon Brown would call a snap election after coming to power, but only now made public, states: “Set a target. This should be at least three times your legal maximum.

“Tell everyone how much you are aiming to raise as most people do not realise just how expensive elections are. However, don’t set a target that’s unreachable. It will just demoralise members.”

It goes on to tell candidates to target local businessmen, celebrities, gentry and rotary and golf club members.

Basildon councillor Allan Davies, Labour’s candidate against Tory John Baron for the Billericay seat, said it was unbelievable.

He said: “Why would you raise more than you are going to spend.

“I can’t see it costing more than £2,000 to £3,000. What we need is more transparency about how much is going to be spent and where donations come from.”

Charles Bunker, deputy chairman of the East of England Conservatives, said the party would never spend above the maximum and extra cash would be carried over for future campaigns, including European, county and district elections.

He said: “These cost money and big elections, like the general election, are a good time to fundraise.

“Each association is also expected to contribute to the national campaign.

“Election expenses are rigorously controlled by the candidate’s agent.

“There is no question of us spending more on a campaign than we are legally allowed.”

Conservative Party central office spokesman Allan Hayden said: “The party needs to fundraise on an ongoing basis to ensure resources are in place to campaign.

“Local associations do not spend more than the legal limit of spending set out for election campaigns.

“All donations are fully declared and registered with the Electoral Commission.”