Former Ukip MP Douglas Carswell says it is ‘job done’ as he quits Parliament revealing he will vote TORY on June 8
DOUGLAS Carswell has revealed he is quitting Parliament and said he will vote TORY on June 8.
The former Ukip MP announced on his blog he would not be standing on June 8, saying it was "job done" and he was "delighted"
The Clacton representative, who left the Tories in 2014, had come under fire for not calling a by-election when he resigned the whip and became independent earlier this year.
There had been speculation he might seek to re-join Theresa May's party, but instead said he would support "whoever the Clacton Constituency Conservatives select as their candidate" in his seat.
It had been expected that the Ukip donor Arron Banks, a longtime critic, would stand against him in the snap election.
A statement on behalf of the insurance tycoon said: “Within 24 hours of launching his campaign to drain the Clacton swamp Arron Banks, the new sheriff in town, has run the old sheriff out.
“Good riddance – time for Clacton to have a proper MP instead of the coward Carswell.
“Arron and Any Wigmore having a bottle of red to decide if Arron will continue to run in Clacton.”
Another statement from Mr Banks to the Guardian on Mr Carswell read: “He’s a coward, he’s too chicken. He didn’t want to fight me because he knew he would lose.
Mr Carswell had previously responded to Theresa May’s shock announcement by declaring it was “job done” for voters of his former employers.
He told people who voted for the party in 2015 to go elsewhere on June 8, tweeting: “If you voted UKIP in 2015, it’s job done.”
If his call is heeded then the four million people who sided with Nigel Farage at the last general Election will be looking for another political home this time around, with the potential for a huge impact on the outcome.
'Job done. I'm delighted'
Here is Douglas Carswell's full statement on why he is standing down:
"I have never felt more proud and honoured than when representing my Essex constituents in the House of Commons.
"Over the past twelve years I have had great fun working with, and getting to know, many wonderful local people.
"Together, we ran all sorts of local campaigns, from safeguarding local services to getting a new seafront. Local has always come first.
"As I promised in my maiden speech, I have done everything possible to ensure we got, and won, a referendum to leave the European Union - even changing parties and triggering a by election to help nudge things along.
"Last summer, we won that referendum. Britain is going to become a sovereign country again.
"I have decided that I will not now be seeking re-election. I intend to vote Conservative on June 8th and will be offering my full support to whoever the Clacton Constituency Conservatives select as their candidate.
"It is sometimes said that all political careers end in failure. It doesn't feel like that to me today. I have stood for Parliament five times, won four times, and helped win the referendum last June.
"Job done. I'm delighted.
"Having been an MP for about half my adult life, I believe that it is time for me to move on to other things. I look forward to being able to read newspapers without appearing in them.
"It has been the highest honour to have represented Clacton in the House of Commons."