Former Canterbury and Whitstable MP Sir Julian Brazier has announced today he will not apply to fight to win his seat back.

The veteran Tory, who first won the constituency in 1987, lost his seat to Labour’s Rosie Duffield in arguably the biggest shock of June’s general election.

Whether he would stand again was the source of much speculation, with Canterbury Conservatives yet to pick a candidate for the next election campaign.

But today Sir Julian ended all doubt by revealing he feels the time is right to step aside.

“It was a huge privilege to represent Canterbury and Whitstable for 30 years,” he said.

“Serving in Parliament enabled me to represent the constituency and fight for local issues, like the Kent and Canterbury hospital.

“It also enabled me to work on a number of national issues including in areas like defence, the economy, social justice and, more recently, the importance of Brexit.

“I expect this Parliament to last a full five years as the new laws require, and feel that by 2022 it would be right that the baton should have passed on.”

Sir Julian lost to Ms Duffield by just 187 votes after enjoying a succession of large majorities at the ballot box in his three decades as an MP.

He says he does not wish to stand in the way of his successor as the Conservatives look to combat the growth of Labour support in the city.

“It is critical that we return a Conservative government to protect the economic recovery we are achieving, to safeguard our reforms in areas like education and welfare and to prevent a far-left government led by Jeremy Corbyn taking over,” he said.

“In the meantime, I do not wish to stand in the way of a successor working here as Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, with our excellent local Conservative Association.

“I am very grateful for all that the members of the Association did to support me.

“I shall continue to be involved in politics, in a number of areas.”