Decision day on Suffolk MP

South Suffolk MP Tim Yeo will find out today whether he's won his fight to be the Conservative candidate in the constituency at the next General Election.

He's represented South Suffolk in Parliament since 1983, fighting 7 General Elections, making him one of the most senior and long serving politicians in the East.

But this time he's got a fight on his hands with his own party members. Last November the executive committee of South Suffolk Conservatives voted not to re-adopt Tim Yeo as their parliamentary candidate for May 2015. They allege he doesn't spend enough time in the constituency, fails to attend local meetings and simply "isn't involved" in local issues.

Tim Yeo rebuts those allegations, and told ITV Anglia he's been at the helm of several successful local campaigns including most recently pushing the Prime Minister to change his mind on plans for a toll road on the A14. He doesn't deny that he doesn't live in the constituency but says he has a house in Sudbury which "he visits every weekend" . He also believes his extensive outside interests, which have earned him more than £130,000 over the past 12 months, enhance his role as a MP.

Now the 600 or so members of the South Suffolk Conservative Association are having their say in a postal ballot. They can choose to agree with the decision of the executive committee and deselect Tim Yeo or to have him as their candidate in 2015.

The ballot closes at 12noon on Monday 3rd February and shortly afterwards Tim Yeo will learn his fate: his career cut short by his own local party or the chance to go on and fight another election next year.