Bexhill and Battle MP Charles Wardle has been thrown out of the Conservative Party in the Commons after backing an independent candidate in the general election.

The whip was withdrawn from former Home Office Minister, who is standing down at the election, because he supports an independent Conservative candidate as his successor instead of the official Tory candidate Greg Barker, a spokesman for the party said.

Conservative Chief Whip James Arbuthnot wrote to Mr Wardle, telling him his conduct was "in total conflict" with his continued receipt of the whip.

Mr Wardle has announced he is stepping down after accepting a £120,000-a-year job with Mohammed Al Fayed, the owner of Harrods.

He won a majority of more than 11,000 in 1997 and the Sussex seat is regarded as safe.

Today Mr Wardle described his party's decision as "vindictive and unjustified".

He wrote back to Mr Arbuthnot saying he had not declared his intention to support an independent.

Mr Arbuthnot told the MP he was relying on a newspaper article to substantiate his charge. Mr Wardle today insisted the article was inaccurate.

Conservative Central Office had no immediate comment on Mr Wardle's remarks.