Brexit Party MEP quits as general election candidate with blast at Nigel Farage
2 min read
A Brexit Party MEP has quit as a general election candidate in protest at Nigel Farage's decision not to contest Tory-held seats.
Louis Stedman-Bryce had been due to stand for the party in Glasgow North East on 12 December.
But he said he was quitting in the wake of Mr Farage's decision to give the Tories a clear run in the 317 constituencies they won at the 2017 election.
The Brexit Party leader said he wanted to create a "Leave Alliance" to kill off any chance of a second EU referendum.
He also said he had been convinced by Boris Johnson's claim that he will not seek an extension to the post-Brexit transition period, which is due to run out at the end of 2020.
But announcing his resignation as a candidate on Twitter, Mr Stedman-Bryce - who is a Brexit Party MEP for Scotland - said he could not back his leader's stance.
He said: "I joined the Brexit Party to change politics for good and uphold democracy and I do not trust @BorisJohnson to deliver the type of Brexit I voted for.
"I believe that the deal he has proposed would be devastating to our country and our future prosperity.
"So it is with a heavy heart that I have taken the decision not to run in the upcoming general election. Whilst I supported a localised agreement with the Tories in Scotland to help prevent the onslaught of the SNP, I cannot support standing down PPC's across all Tory seats."
Brexit Party candidates who had been due to stand in Conservative seats have also spoken of their disappointment at being stood down by Mr Farage.
Claire Mowbray, who was due to run in Maidenhead said: "As you will be aware, I have been stood down as the candidate for the Brexit Party in Maidenhead. I am very disappointed. I would have loved to continue campaigning against Theresa May. I understand the reasoning and I will work hard to support other candidates."
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