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# Potential candidate confirms he has dropped out of the by-election race
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/potential-candidate-confirms-he-has-dropped-out-of-the-by-election-race/
- Published: 2023-09-23T08:06:55.000Z
- Updated: 2023-09-23T08:07:08.000Z
- Description: A potential by-election candidate has confirmed he has dropped out of the race.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Fazeley, Politics, Shenstone, Stonnall, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 19:01, News

A potential by-election candidate has confirmed he has dropped out of the race.

Richard Kingstone had been expected to stand as an independent in the Tamworth constituency – which includes areas such as Fazeley, Stonnall and Shenstone – next month.

But he has confirmed that “personal circumstances” meant he would not contest the seat.

> “When I say I am truly sorry I cannot continue in the parliamentary race, I do mean it – all I will add is that it is for the right reasons.  
>  
> “Sometimes doing the right thing is incredibly hard to do.  
>  
> “Thank you so much to all of those who were supporting me.”  
>  
> Richard Kingstone

It means that the following candidates will battle it out to replace Christopher Pincher, who resigned after losing an appeal against a House of Commons suspension for groping two men in a London club.

- Robert Bilcliff – UKIP
- Andy Cooper – Conservatives
- Ian Cooper – Reform UK
- Sarah Edwards – Labour
- Howling Laud Hope – The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
- Sue Howarth – Green Party
- Peter Longman
- Ashlea Simon – Britain First
- Sunny Virk – Lib Dem