Candidate quits marginal seat

Dr Aubel increased the Tories share of the vote by 5.9 per cent in 2001

The Conservative parliamentary candidate for the marginal seat of Brecon and Radnorshire has stepped down.

The Tories will now have to search for a replacement for Dr Felix Aubel, who blamed job commitments for his decision.

The 43-year-old politician reduced the Liberal Democrat majority in the highly-marginal seat to 751 at the 2001 general election.

Nick Bourne, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Welsh assembly, said Dr Aubel was an "excellent candidate".

A new candidate will be chosen for the seat, which is held by Roger Williams, at the earliest opportunity, said Welsh Conservative party director Leigh Jeffes.

Mr Jeffes said he was disappointed to hear the news and had publicly thanked him for the "considerable qualities" he had brought to the role.

Mr Bourne, AM for mid and west Wales, said: "I have been a close political colleague of Felix for many years.

"He was an excellent candidate for the Conservative party at the 2001 elections which gives us a good springboard for the next general election."

Dr Aubel, an expert on Welsh politics, is a congregational minister, broadcaster and writer.

He was brought up in Aberdare and has taught history and religious education in Kent.

He moved back to Wales to lecture history at the University of Wales, Lampeter.

His campaigns in Brecon and Radnorshire have focused on the decline of rural post offices and schools.

Dr Aubel is a former member of the Social Democratic Party and was a parliamentary candidate in south Wales.

But he disagreed with the SDP over defence and devolution and joined the Conservatives.

He has written about the history of the Conservative Party in Wales, dating back to 1880.