Afzal Amin quits Dudley North election race over EDL row

Afzal Amin has resigned as Tory candidate for Dudley North following the row over his links with the EDL.

A party spokesman said: “Afzal Amin is resigning as Conservative candidate for Dudley North with immediate effect.

“Conservative Chairman Grant Shapps has welcomed Mr Amin’s decision and thanked him for his work in the past.”

The Conservative Party will now select a new candidate to fight the constituency.

Mr Amin, who was filmed in discussions with former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson, initially said he would fight the allegations in the hope of staying on as parliamentary candidate in the Tory target seat.

But party sources said he had resigned as candidate "with immediate effect", a day ahead of a planned disciplinary hearing.