A SUSSEX MP and former Cabinet minister has announced she will not compete in the December General Election.

Amber Rudd, independent MP for Hastings, confirmed today she will stand down for her position.

The former Work and Pensions Secretary left the Conservative Party in September after 21 Tories were kicked out of the party for voting against a no-deal Brexit.

But Ms Rudd told the Evening Standard she had left on “perfectly good terms” with the Prime Minister.

“I’m not finished with politics, I’m just not standing at this election,” she said.

Labour candidate for Hastings Peter Chowney told The Argus Ms Rudd’s heart “had never really been in Hastings”.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we never see her in Hastings again,” he said.

“She rolled out Universal Credit early here, which was very unpopular with residents.

“And she said in an interview previously people were coming down to Hastings for easier access to booze.

“I don’t know about you but I’ve never found cheap booze here.”

Mr Chowney said Labour was “the only party backing a second referendum”.

Hastings voted 54 per cent in favour of leaving the EU in the 2016 Referendum.

“It’s proving quite popular on the doorstep,” he said.

“This is one of our target seats and it will be a hard-fought campaign, but we believe we can win here.”

Ms Rudd faced a number of controversies during her term as Home Secretary under Prime Minister Theresa May

She resigned in April 2018 in the wake of the Windrush scandal, which revealed the Government had threatened to deport children of immigrants who arrived after the Second World War to work.

The former Cabinet minister also faced criticism in 2016 when she proposed forcing companies to disclose how many foreign workers she employed.

Meanwhile in Eastbourne, independent MP Stephen Lloyd announced he had rejoined the Lib Dems - and switched on his Brexit position.

Mr Lloyd had quit the party in December last year, writing in a letter he had made a “clear promise” to his constituency to vote for Brexit.

But now the MP has rejoined the Lib Dems and will campaign for them in the upcoming General Election.

“I am a Remainer, I’ve kept my word, but with a new election the slate is clean,” he said.

“I’m going to be backing remain full-throatedly.”