FORMER Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell has confirmed he is to stand as the Liberal Democrat candidate in June’s General Election.

Sir Bob had represented the town for 18 years until 2015 but was ousted by Tory Will Quince in 2015.

And he is determined to win the seat back - with the help of Labour and Green voters.

The veteran former MP said: “The people of Colchester now have to decide whether they want to be represented by a Conservative MP or not.

“If they don’t, it is me, as the Liberal Democrat candidate, they must vote for.

“The Conservatives have won Colchester because the anti-Tory vote has been allowed to be split, by Labour and Green voters, whose views I respect.

“I would now urge them to vote for me in order to beat the Conservatives.”

In 2015, Sir Bob won 27.5 per cent of the vote, behind Will Quince’s 38.9 per cent.

Labour took 16.2 per cent while the Greens garnered 5.1 per cent.

Sir Bob was initially selected as the party’s Colchester candidate last summer, when Theresa May was appointed Prime Minister and a snap election was expected.

However, that poll never came but Sir Bob remained the candidate for one year.

On Friday, senior party members confirmed his candidacy for June’s poll.

He said: “I was not going to stand in the General Election planned for 2020, but with [it] brought forward by three years I have been under a lot of pressure to stand again in six weeks’ time.

“I have given the matter considerable thought.

“My wife has said she will back me, as she has always done previously for which I am immensely grateful, and pledges of support and encouragement have come from friends and party members.”

Sir Bob, who was knighted in 2012 in recognition of his public service his home town, is a former Mayor of Colchester and Colchester Council leader. 

He plans to oppose the PM’s planned ‘hard Brexit’ in a bid to secure jobs connected to the “pan European” Essex University as well as worldwide fan manufacturer Fläkt Woods.

He also said Mrs May’s p;ans for leaving the EU could be “a disaster” for the NHS, which relies on foreign workers, including from the EU, and the care industry.

The former MP was appointed to the non-political post of Colchester High Steward after losing the 2015 election.

He has withdrawn from any civic engagements which are planned during the General Election period however Conservative Darius Laws, who represents Castle ward on Colchester Council has called for him to step down from the role completely.