Mr Hogg's moat claim featured prominently in recent MP expenses revelations

Douglas Hogg - who repaid £2,200 apparently claimed for clearing a moat at his country estate - says he will not fight the next election.

The Conservative MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham said all his claims had been agreed with the fees office.

But he said he repaid the money so his claim was "seen to be reasonable".

Mr Hogg said he wanted to give his Tory association "time to select a new candidate to best represent local and national interests".

He had maintained he had not claimed the money but agreed it had not been "positively excluded" from paperwork submitted to the Commons fees office.

In a statement Mr Hogg said: "In the 30 years I have been in Parliament, I have tried to serve my country and constituents with independence, integrity and principle. I hope that I have succeeded.

"Looking back on my time as a backbencher, the best decision that I ever made was to stand against the second Iraq war from the very beginning.

"Over the last 12 years I have stood against Labour's steady erosion of civil liberties which has been quite scandalous.

"I have also had the privilege to serve in both the Thatcher and Major governments which together left the incoming Labour government a golden legacy which Mr Brown and Labour have comprehensively squandered.

"I look forward to a new prime minister in David Cameron, who is clearly the right leader for our country in this time."