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The Conservative candidate for Burton Kate Griffiths has said she does not accept estranged husband Andrew's political support as she runs for his former seat.

It was announced last night that Mrs Griffiths, a mother-of-one, had been selected by East Staffordshire Conservative Association to stand in the upcoming General Election for the party.

This came just hours after Mr Griffiths, who has represented the town for nine years as MP up to 2019, announced he would no longer be fighting for selection for the December 12 election - and that he was backing his wife.

Mr Griffiths chose not to fight on after failing to gain a majority of votes needed at a secret ballot of the local Tory association on Monday, November 11 - when the voting was tied.

However today, Mrs Griffiths has said she does not accept and has not sought her husband's offer of political support, reports the BBC.

A statement is expected to be issued later today by Mrs Griffiths regarding this. A Burton Live reporter is speaking with Mrs Griffiths this afternoon.

Mrs Griffiths, who works at Burton Albion Football Club , will now take on Labour's Louise Walker, Liberal Democrat Adam Wain and the Green Party's Kate Coupland.

It is understood Mr and Mrs Griffiths are separated, with Mrs Griffiths' Facebook relationship status listed as "single".

Mr Griffiths was embroiled in controversy after he sent a series of explicit sex texts to two barmaids. He resigned as Small Business Minister ahead of the national newspaper revelations 15 months ago.

He apologised over the incident and was later cleared of any wrongdoing after a parliamentary investigation into his conduct. He also said he had suffered mental health issues.