He was elected as a Conservative but was suspended from the party while he was investigated regarding allegations made by his wife. At the end of 2007 he announced that he would not be seeking re-election - a decision he has today reversed.
Gavin Barwell, the Tory candidate for the seat, has responded to the news:
"I am obviously disappointed at his decision, though it is hardly a surprise (someone purporting to be his election agent attended the recent election agents' meeting and has distributed a letter in parts of the constituency asking for £20,000 to pay for his campaign).
Being an MP shouldn't be a career, it should be about championing the things you believe in. Sadly Andrew has clearly decided that the job is more important to him than the Conservative values he has championed so effectively for the last 30 years.
My message to people who want more police on our streets, who want to keep an A&E Department at Mayday, who want action to control immigration is clear: voting for Andrew won't achieve any of these things. It will simply split the anti-Labour vote and risks getting you a Labour MP and five more years of Gordon Brown. There will only be a change of government after the election if another party has more MPs than Labour. The Conservative Party is the only party with a realistic chance of doing that. So if you're not happy with things at the moment, if you want change, you need to vote Conservaitve."
The seat has a projected Labour majority of 317. Mr Pelling's selfish decision will make it harder to see Gavin Barwell elected.
Bob Spink MP is another ex-Tory MP who is standing in his own seat - Castle Point - against the official Conservative candidate.
Tim Montgomerie
