The BBC reports that Mike Hancock has announced that he is to stand as an independent candidate in Portsmouth South. Hancock had the whip withdrawn last year after apologising for inappropriate conduct towards a constituent.
He told BBC News: “I’m going to stand for sure, I’ve made this decision because my health is so much better and I think I owe it to a lot of people who have supported me.
“Once you’ve been an MP for as long as I have it’s hard to just walk away.
“I think if enough people realise that I’m like everyone, I’m a fallible human being who made a mistake but paid a very high price for it… I think I could .”
He will go head-to-head with his former party colleague Gerald Vernon-Jackson who will be standing for the Liberal Democrats.
But Mr Hancock said he felt he “did not owe anything” to his old party and was not concerned about taking their votes.
You have to wonder if the rules on resettlement allowances were a factor in his decision. MPs who lose their seats are entitled to a payment of up to six months salary. The qualifications are thus: