A FORMER Conservative district councillor has left the party and will stand as an independent in Worcester at the next general election.

Andrew Christian-Brookes, aged 54, said he would fulfil a life-long ambition if he got to serve in the Houses of Parliament.

With his campaign slogan “Public Service before Self”, Mr Christian-Brookes will be up against current MP Mike Foster, Labour; Robin Walker, Conservative, and Louis Stephen, Green Party. No Liberal Democrat candidate has so far announced they will be in the running in the city at next year’s general election.

Mr Christian-Brookes, who left the Conservative Party, which he joined aged 15, after his membership ran out in January, said: “Now that I have not rejoined the Conservative Party and have no party political affiliations whatsoever I am free to pursue total representation of the people without any political interference or hindrance, and the time saved on attending political meetings can be better spent on representing and lobbying the government of the day with commonsense solutions to everyday situations on behalf of my prospective constituents.”

Mr Christian-Brookes, of Droitwich, who served eight years on Wychavon District Council until 2007, said one of his main campaigns would be to restore full accident and emergency provision at Kidderminster Hospital so that it could take some of the pressure off the staff and facilities at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

He said: “As an independent I would seek to support the Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor in any initiatives that would enhance and support services at Kidderminster and Redditch, whilst enabling Worcestershire Royal to give better medical care to the people of the city of Worcester and its immediate outlying areas.”

Mr Christian-Brookes said he would also like a wider public debate on the proposed expansion of Worcester over the next two decades.

Mr Christian-Brookes, a former pupil of Droitwich Secondary Modern, now Witton Middle School, said he would be using his own resources to fund his campaign.

“I shall not be seeking any financial support or gratis favours from any donors, businesses, charities or private individuals or any outside support whatsoever, and further, I shall decline any such financial support if it should be offered,” he said.

Mr Christian-Brookes said he would welcome support and assistance in knocking on doors, though.

“Some might be drawn to say of my decision to stand that I am a firebrand, a loose cannon, but people must realise it’s the resolve on issues that matter to the public, not who did what since 1997, and I will always fight hard for the public interest putting public service before self,” he said.