Gauke said he would contest South West Hertfordshire seat he has held since 2005

This article is more than 10 months old

This article is more than 10 months old

The former Tory cabinet minister David Gauke has announced he will stand as an independent candidate at the general election.

The former justice secretary said he would contest the South West Hertfordshire seat he has held since 2005.

Gauke also endorsed calls for a second referendum, saying there was no longer any chance of uniting the country around a “relatively soft Brexit”.

He told the Times: “I represent a form of liberal Conservatism, but the last few months have been increasingly uncomfortable... The principle issue of this general election is Brexit and I think that the Conservative party has got it badly wrong.

“The easy thing to do would be to go quietly but I feel that I have to make a stand and make the case that we are heading towards an outcome that we will deeply regret.”

Gauke was one of 21 MPs kicked out of the Tory party in September after they backed a plan to take control of the Commons timetable to pass legislation to block a no-deal Brexit. He did not have the whip restored and speculation over whether he would stand as an independent candidate in his seat has been rife.

His decision, coupled with his backing of a second referendum, will put pressure on the Liberal Democrats to stand their candidate down in the constituency.

The party’s candidate in Marlow, Buckinghamshire has stood aside to make room for another ex-Tory, Dominic Grieve, to stand. Like Gauke, the former attorney general was one of the 21 MPs expelled in September.