THE Tory MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke has been reselected to run in the upcoming general election, after he faced what he has since described as a "vicious smear campaign".

Jack Lopresti MP had been facing calls to be deselected after an anonymous letter was circulated to members of his own party that asked them to consider an alternative candidate. 

However, a meeting of party members last night confirmed that Jack Lopresti MP will be running as the Conservative candidate in the upcoming general election.

Mr Lopresti later tweeted his delight at the news.

He wrote: "A fantastic honour to be re-adopted to contest Filton & Bradley Stoke as the Conservative candidate in the general election."

The MP has since released a statement that said that the anonymous letter was part of an "attempt to destroy" his character and reputation.

He also confirmed that he has called the police in relation to a data breach which meant that parliamentary emails were leaked to the meda.

He said: "For the last month my family and I have been subject to a vicious smear campaign with racist overtones.

“Since the day after my son Clifford was born, my office has been bombarded with bogus calls from people purporting to be national journalists and with dark threats of illegally taped conversations.

“There have clearly been illegal data breaches where private parliamentary emails have been accessed and handed to the media.

"The local Conservative party has potentially also had a data breach. I have informed the police this morning and will expect them to carry out a full investigation.

“I have had many messages of support from party members and lots of constituents and I am sure that this recent attempt to destroy my character and reputation has been orchestrated by a small handful of people. This may include a former very bitter party member and possibly a disgruntled employee.

“I can only think that this is as a result of personal choices I have made in my private life, which some may not have approved. I love my fiancé Andrea and love and am extremely proud of my young son Clifford and nobody will ever be able to change that.”