A RICHMONDSHIRE district councillor who put his name forward to stand as a Conservative parliamentary candidate has now announced he is quitting the party to stand as an independent.

Robin Scott, from Leyburn, who is stepping step down as a district councillor next year, said he decided to leave the Tory Party after its headquarters failed to support his intention to apply to the local constituency for to stand in the Richmond constituency.

Mr Scott said: “In July, following William Hague’s retirement, bookmakers Ladbrokes named me as second favourite to a local Conservative Association colleague; and at 5/2 I had been looking forward to a lively hustings in front of familiar faces.

“The lads at football have put money on me being the next MP for Richmond after the May 2015 election. I can’t do them out of their winnings by giving up now - I asked for their trust and I’m going to keep my promise.

“On a serious note, I would have respected the vote of my local association 100 per cent. I can’t let my community down because of the opinion of officials in London - and it was literally two or three people who made this decision.

“I’m confident enough to put this to the 90,000 or so voters in Richmond. This is a democracy, after all.”

“I believe we in Britain should all be free from centralised government interference. I will stand as a truly independent candidate, and give the electorate here in Richmond a proper choice.”