Sir Eric Pickles to quit as MP after 25 years

Sir Eric Pickles is a former communities secretary. Credit: PA

Sir Eric Pickles has announced that he will not stand as an MP in the General Election.

The 65-year-old former Conservative Party chairman has represented Brentwood and Ongar as an MP for 25 years.

Sir Eric announced on Twitter that he looked forward to being a "canvasser, not a candidate" in the run-up to the June 8 election.