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Charlie Brooks is set to stand as a Ukip candidate at next year's general election, it was reported today.

The racehorse trainer and husband of Rebekah Brooks is believed to have raised the possibility standing with Ukip leader Nigel Farage, says the Daily Mail.

The couple were both cleared of all charges after a nine month trial at the Old Bailey into claims of phone hacking at the News of the World.

Mr Brooks, 51, who is a member of the 'Chipping Norton set' and has enjoyed a close relationship with David Cameron, would be a candidate for the election in 2015.

A Ukip insider told the newspaper Mr Farage has confirmed the claims.

Last week Mr Brooks was chairman of a debate at the CLA Game Fair in Oxfordshire where Mr Farage was a speaker.

The Ukip leader told the Daily Mail: “We attended lunch after the debate and enjoyed a drink and a chat. If Charlie applies, then we’ll consider it.”

Earlier this month Mr Brooks made comments he was “disappointed” by the way the Prime Minister treated his wife when the phone-hacking allegations emerged.

He said: “I was a little bit disappointed when he commented in parliament on whether Rebekah should resign or not because I didn't really feel he had all of the facts at his finger tips to comment on that.”