LBC radio presenter Iain Dale has announced he is leaving the broadcaster to stand as a candidate in the General Election.
Sky News reports that Dale, 61, will be trying to become the Tory candidate in Tunbridge Wells.
It’s not the first time Dale has tried to enter Westminster, having previously ran in 2005 but lost in Norfolk North.
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Announcing his decision live on LBC on Tuesday night, Dale said: “I am putting my hat in the ring again to be a candidate at the General Election.
“Whatever the result, I feel I can play a role in restoring trust and honesty in politics. There are no guarantees I will be selected, let alone elected, but I know that I would forever kick myself if I didn’t at least have a go.”
Dale said he had two ambitions in life – to be a radio presenter and an MP.
He did concede, however, that it did not go well when he last stood as a candidate in 2005, saying that the “electorate fought back”.
The presenter first joined LBC in 2010 and presented four General Election night shows for the station, along with two American presidential election programmes.
He also hosted the radio station’s Scottish independence and Brexit referendum result shows.
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LBC’s senior managing editor Tom Cheal described Dale as “world-class broadcaster” who had been “hugely important” to the station.
Tunbridge Wells is a safe seat for the Tories and has been held by Greg Clark since 2005 and he won the 2019 election with a 55.1% share of the vote.
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