STOURBRIDGE’S Brexit Party candidate appears to be out of the race to the polls after Nigel Farage has confirmed the party will not stand candidates in the 317 seats won by the Conservatives at the 2017 general election.

Bodybuilder Aaron Hudson had been selected to stand against Labour’s Pete Lowe and the Tories who have recently selected Suzanne Webb as their Parliamentary candidate in the fight for the Stourbridge constituency seat.

But the 31-year-old software and web developer will now be stood down in light of Mr Farage’s announcement.

The Dudley-born dad-of-three, who has lived in Stourbridge for ten years, told the News: “It makes sense what they’ve done but for me personally I saw it as an opportunity to give something back to the town. I just hope we don’t regret it in a few months.”

He added: “I didn’t get into this for a career – I’m a software developer and I was selected by the Brexit Party to stand for election. I’m not a politician. I just wanted the best for Stourbridge. What’s going on in Lye is a travesty – that would have been my number one priority. I wanted to hold the councillors to account.”

He said he originally became active in politics – joining the Conservatives 12 months ago - because he was “concerned about the area” but he jumped ship to the Brexit Party as he said: “I’m not a huge fan of what the Conservatives do. I don’t agree with the cuts.”

But he said he now hopes newly-selected Tory candidate Suzanne Webb, from Sutton Coldfield, takes the seat left vacant by the departure of sitting MP Margot James who decided not to stand again given her voting history on Brexit and the conflict that created within the local party.

He added: “I hope she wins. I’d rather she won than Labour.”

Although he said he would not quite be following the lead set by former Dudley South Brexit Party candidate Paul Brothwood who has quit the party to help Tory Mike Wood retain his seat for the Conservatives in order to see Brexit done.

Mr Brothwood said he was chuffed to hear Mr Farage’s announcement that he would not put up candidates in all 317 seats won by the Tories in 2017 and he added: “I’m pleased that Brexit Party candidates such as myself who stood down have been vindicated. It would have been crazy for Nigel to stand against the Conservatives who are the only party who can deliver Brexit.”