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Layla Moran is to withdraw from the Liberal Democrat leadership race two months after revelations that she was once arrested for assaulting a boyfriend, the Standard can reveal.

The rising star, currently 2/1 second favourite with bookmakers Betway, has written to party members in her Oxford West and Abingdon constituency saying that she will not be putting her name forward when Sir Vince Cable bows out as leader.

She told the Standard her decision was nothing to do with the controversy when she admitted to facing charges, which were dropped, in the 2013 incident.

In a statement she said: “I am grateful to the large number of constituents, supporters, party members and elected representatives who have encouraged me to throw my hat into the ring in the forthcoming Liberal Democrat Leadership contest.

“As a relatively new MP, however, my first priority has to be to serve my constituents to the best of my ability.”

She added: “For this reason, I wrote to local party members earlier this week to let them know that I would not be standing for the leadership this time.”

However, some sources said Ms Moran loathed being in the limelight and wanted to avoid the extra scrutiny of a leadership election.

Her departure from the battle leaves former minister Jo Swinson as clear 4/7 favourite to take over and become the Lib Dems’ first woman leader at a time their fortunes are being revived by the Brexit furore.

It will also be a boost for 8-1 challenger Sir Ed Davey, the former Energy Secretary, who is now Ms Swinson’s main challenger. Other MPs may enter the race later.

Ms Moran, who has campaigned against domestic violence, was putting on support until rumours began circulating about the incident which happened at a party conference in Glasgow in 2013.

She issued a statement setting out what happened, saying she slapped the man, identified only as Richard, in a spat over a lost computer cable.

“In 2013, Richard and I had a row at the autumn conference in Glasgow that initially began over a lost computer cable,” she said.

“The relationship had come under enormous strain in preceding months and regrettably, it escalated and in the heat of the moment I slapped him because I felt threatened.

“We both recognise it wasn’t our finest hour and were, both at the time and continue to be, grateful that the police mediated, and calmed things down.” The MP said they were detained at a police station and she was later charged, although the case was dropped as “there was no case to answer”.

A source said: “She was shaken by the media attention and I think she wants to protect her friends and relatives from being exposed to further scrutiny, which would be unavoidable in a leadership contest.”

Ms Moran was praised by some commentators for her honesty in making a statement about what happened, but others said any form of domestic violence should be condemned.