A LABOUR MP wants to clamp down on motorists driving without insurance by introducing new legislation.

Leigh MP Andy Burnham wants to make it compulsory for drivers to display a disc in their windscreen to show that they are insured.

Mr Burnham decided to act after speaking with residents who had been involved in motoring accidents with drivers who had no insurance.

The reform is part of his Private Member's Bill, the National Insurance Contributions and Statutory Payments Bill, which will be debated in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

Mr Burnham is confident the bill will become law after gaining the support of the Labour party.

Mr Burnham said the simple insurance disc system would help to cut the number of motorists driving on the road without insurance.

He said: "There are more than one million cars uninsured in the UK and these drivers have the potential to wreck lives. A few constituents in Leigh have visited my surgery and told me about how they were involved in car accidents with people who had no car insurance.

"There is always a high number of people up in court for driving without any insurance.

"The insurance disc is a simple system which will make people get insurance. The disc will be displayed for all to see, and the new legislation could bring down the cost of insurance. It will not solve the problem completely, but it is a step in the right direction."

Hugh German, vice-chairman of Bolton Advanced Motorists, welcomed the proposals.

He said: "There are lots of people driving uninsured at the moment and its a serious offence. They are the kind of people who drive off when they have been involved in a car accident, leaving the victim lying in the road. There are lots of other countries who operate a similar system. It is a sensible way to tackle the problem."