General election 2019: Tory candidate Chris Davies stands aside in Wales over fake expenses conviction criticism ‘As John Major once said, when the curtain falls, it’s time to leave the stage,’ said a Welsh politician over Mr Davies’ decision

A former Conservative MP who was convicted of faking expenses claims has withdrawn his candidacy for a new seat in Wales following fury over his selection.

Welsh politicians said the Tories’ decision to choose Chris Davies to stand in Ynys Mon showed the party’s “utter contempt” for local voters.

Mr Davies was ousted as the MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, another Welsh seat, in June after the expenses scandal triggered a recall petition. More than 10,000 people in the constituency voted to eject him from the seat.

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After losing to Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds in the subsequent by-election, Mr Davies sought to revive his political career in Ynys Mon – also referred to as the island of Anglesey – at the forthcoming election.

But his selection in the north Wales seat on Tuesday was met with condemnation, leading him to stand down hours later.

‘Don’t want to put family through distress’

“Given the reaction in the media to the idea of me being a candidate, I have decided to pull out of the selection process,” said Mr Davies. “I would not want to put my wife and family through any more distress.”

Earlier Plaid Cymru candidate Aled ap Dafydd said the Conservative’s decision to impose a convicted former MP “as the candidate for the island shows how little they care about Ynys Mon”.

“This makes a mockery of the people of the island.”

Deputy leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Baroness Christine Humphreys, said the move demonstrated the Tories’ “utter contempt for the voters of Ynys Mon”.

“People deserve better, better than an MP who was rejected by his constituents and has fled his former constituency to seek election somewhere else.”

‘Time to leave the stage’

Responding to Mr Davies’ decision to step aside, Welsh Conservative Assembly Member Nick Ramsay said it was the “right thing” to do.

“As John Major once said, when the curtain falls, it’s time to leave the stage.”

Mr Davies was convicted in March after he admitted submitting two false expenses invoices for nine photographs costing £700 to decorate his new office.

He was fined £1,500, ordered to pay £2,500 towards legal costs and told to carry out 50 hours of community service.

Welsh Labour’s Albert Owen held Ynys Mon since 2001, when the party gained the seat from Plaid Cymru. Following his retirement, Mary Roberts has been selected as the Labour candidate.

Mr ap Dafydd is standing for Plaid Cymru and Helen Jenner for the Brexit Party.

The seat is seen as a three-way marginal between Labour, the Tories and Plaid Cymru. The Conservatives have not yet announced a replacement candidate.

Candidates who want to stand in the election need to hand in nomination papers by 4pm on 14 November.