Carl Judge quits PUP: Palmer United Party's only Queensland MP resigns to become independent

Updated

Queensland's only sitting Palmer United Party (PUP) MP has resigned from the party to become an independent.

Carl Judge, who became PUP's state leader only two months ago, said it was an amicable spilt and there was no bad blood between him and party leader Clive Palmer.

It is another blow for Mr Palmer following the sudden resignation in August of former PUP Queensland leader Alex Douglas, who accused the party of cronyism.

Mr Judge had been planning to leave his Brisbane seat of Yeerongpilly to run in Kawana for PUP against Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie in next year's state election.

However, Mr Judge said he would now run as an independent in Yeerongpilly, where he lives with his children.

"Palmer United Party was not going to run a candidate in Yeerongpilly," he said.

"This electorate over the last six months has resonated with my heart and mind, how much it means to me to be the member for this electorate."

Mr Palmer confirmed the split on Twitter and wished Mr Judge well.

"A new state leader to be announced with more endorsed candidates next week," he wrote.

Mr Judge has had a turbulent time in state politics since his election to Yeerongpilly in 2012 for the Liberal National Party (LNP).

He quit the LNP to become an independent in November 2012 because he refused to pledge allegiance to Premier Campbell Newman.

He then joined PUP in June 2013.

Mr Judge said he respected Mr Palmer, who he said had gone over and above the call of duty.

"He has invested in establishing a political party and creating change for Australians," he said.

"But political parties take significant effort to establish, and my view is that that would be best achieved at a federal level."

Mr Judge said he would now work closely with independents.

"We may not agree on all things at all times, but I feel like they can contribute very significantly to State Parliament," he said.

Topics: clive-palmer, liberal-national-party, state-parliament, qld

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