8.30pm Update: Sir Peter has just posted the following in the comments below:
"I am interested in your report regarding my retirement as agent for the Huntingdon Conservative Association. You should not read anything into my resignation letter which you have published. My commitment is to the local Party and I will be working towards our success at the forthcoming General Election. However, as I said in my letter to the Chairman, I have health issues which I need to address. Most importantly of all I want to continue my work as a County Councillor representing my constituents in Huntingdon, Alconbury and the Stukeleys. Jonathan is a hard working MP with tremendous support in the constituency. I will work to see the re-election of our local Conservative MP at the forthcoming General Election."
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Sir Peter Brown (pictured), the long-standing party agent in Huntingdon who worked for many years for John Major when he was the local MP, has resigned.
He had been due to retire next year, but has given his association chairman his three months' notice in advance of local MP Jonathan Djanogly addressing a meeting on Thursday to discuss his expenses claims.
Mr Djanogly returned £25,000 he had received in expenses after the Telegraph reported his claims of £4,936 for security gates at his home, and £13,962 and £12,951 for cleaning and gardening respectively over four years. This is the largest amount returned by a Conservative MP (a figure only equalled by Eleanor Laing).
The meeting on Thursday is not a public meeting, as David Cameron has suggested to MPs, but instead is open only to party members and has been described by Mr Djanogly's local paper as a "clear the air" session.
Well-placed sources tell me that that Sir Peter - who is also a member of Cambridgeshire County Council - has been less than happy at the course of events and has not been willing publicly to defend Mr Djanogly's conduct.
In his resignation letter - reproduced below - he pointedly makes no reference to the sitting MP for whom he has acted as agent since 2001:
Dear Martin,
After careful consideration I have come to the decision to take early retirement from my professional political work in Huntingdon.
In doing so I wish to agree arrangements to terminate the current contract in place covering my work for the Association. As you know, it had been my intention to retire on reaching the age of 65 (30th August 2010) but personal circumstances have brought me to rethink this decision. In accordance with the agreement between the Association and PRB Consultancy Services Ltd I am giving three months notice. I do have some clearing up to do following the forthcoming by-elections on 23rd July and would suggest that this letter takes effect from the 31st July with my work finishing on the 31st October.
I have served the Party professionally for 42 years, nearly 25 of which have been in the Huntingdon Constituency. There have been momentous times, not least working with a British Prime Minister whose service to the Country and his Constituency were exemplary. The strength and depth of the Association has been of great pride and joy to me personally.
As for the future, I intend to serve my four year term representing the Huntingdon Division on Cambridgeshire County Council. This will be my sole aspect of political work. Antonia and I enjoy and appreciate our long standing friendships locally both within and outside the political world. We want these to continue as will our support for the Association. It remains for me to express my warmest personal thanks to both you and Sheila for the support you both give the Association so readily.
Peter
Jonathan Isaby
