DUDLEY South’s Conservative candidate says the borough’s Tories have just got “to get on with the job” despite the drama in Dudley North.

Tory councillor Mike Wood spoke out shortly after it was announced Dudley North candidate Afzal Amin had quit amid allegations he had been plotting with EDL members in a bid to boost his chances in the forthcoming General Election.

Mr Amin had strenuously denied the claims made in a national newspaper but after being suspended by party chiefs he, this afternoon, announced he would be resigning his candidacy for the marginal seat.

Councillor Wood, Dudley’s shadow finance spokesman, said: “Afzal was an idiot; he was suspended, he’s now resigned from the party. It’s clearly completely wrong and unacceptable to be even talking with the EDL.

“We’ve got to get on with the job of talking to as many people in Dudley South and whoever the new candidate is in Dudley North.

“It’s never going to be helpful to have such stupid antics going on so close by but it’s now been dealt with; he’s out of the way and we’ll now have a new candidate who will be working extremely hard to beat Ian Austin MP.”

Cllr Wood, however, would not be drawn on who may replace Mr Amin as the Dudley North candidate. He simply said: “Central office and the local association in Dudley North will be working together like they do for any other selection. There’ll obviously be some local candidates and people with close links to the constituency in the mix.”

Mr Amin, a former British Army captain, was unavailable for comment.

Who do you think should replace Mr Amin as the Conservative candidate for Dudley North? Email your suggestions to newsgrouped@midlands.newsquest.co.uk or tweet us @DudleyNews1.