STROUD District Green Party have announced that their parliamentary candidate Chris Jockel is to stand down.

The news was revealed in a statement by the party’s election coordinator Gerald Hartley yesterday, citing a “change in work commitments” as the reasoning behind the decision.

Mr Hartley said: "Due to a change in work commitments since his selection as the Green Party’s parliamentary candidate for Stroud, Chris Jockel has decided to stand down.

“The party thanks him for both the enthusiasm and knowledge he brought to the role.

“We anticipate a healthy interest among members in being selected to replace Chris, at a time when the party has seen a massive surge in membership and a significant improvement in its standing in the polls."

The party had announced Mr Jockel as their candidate in August last year.