Stafford MP deselected one week after maternity leave return

The Conservative MP for Stafford, Theo Clarke, has been deselected.

Ms Clarke, who has represented the town since 2019, said she was "deeply disappointed" not to have been adopted as candidate by a constituency association committee.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the politician said she had faced abuse after announcing plans to take maternity leave.

She says she now intends to seek the support of rank and file members.

"Living at home in the new constituency and working here, I stood on a record of successfully bringing investment into Stafford such as millions for mental health services and crucial infrastructure," Ms Clarke said on Friday.

She added: "Our town will soon see investment from the Levelling Up Fund and the Shared Prosperity Fund is already transforming the town centre with the Shire Hall due to fully reopen soon.

"I tirelessly campaigned for these wins, they will make a difference and make Stafford an even greater, better place to live, work and raise a family."

Ms Clarke, the niece of former business secretary and North East Somerset Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, was elected as MP for Stafford in 2019 with a majority of more than 14,000 during Boris Johnson's landslide victory.

The constituency boundaries of her current seat are being revised to take in more rural areas to the west of the town ahead of the next general election.

Her deselection comes less than a week after the new mother returned to Parliament on 20 February, having spent six months on maternity leave after giving birth to her daughter.

In December last year, she revealed she had received dozens of phone calls from angry constituents who had berated her for taking time off.

She added: "I have only returned from maternity this week and I have been very disappointed by the abuse that I have received since I announced I was having a baby.

"The selection committee have made their decision and it is my full intention to go the membership."

By Amara Sophia Elahi, BBC Radio Stoke political reporter

Alongside her role as MP for Stafford, Theo Clarke also held the position of UK Trade Envoy to Kenya until her resignation last July in protest of Boris Johnson's leadership.

In a stinging resignation letter, Ms Clarke rebuked Mr Johnson for his handling of sexual abuse allegations surrounding the then Conservative MP Chris Pincher, who holds the neighbouring seat of Tamworth in Staffordshire.

Ms Clarke was one of dozens of MPs whose resignations ultimately led to Mr Johnson having to stand down as prime minister.

There is speculation, however, that those MPs who played a part in Mr Johnson's downfall are now facing a backlash from Tory grassroots.

Earlier this week the veteran Conservative MP Damian Green was also deselected by his local association.

Both Mr Green and Ms Clarke could still put their names forward however when the selection of MPs goes to the wider constituency membership.

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