The Brexit Party has named its candidate to fight the parliamentary seat of Maidstone and the Weald at the next General Election, which many predict will be before Christmas.

He is Peter Reeves.

Mr Reeves, 67, describes himself as "a driven entrepreneur," having built his own printing company from scratch to the point of employing 12 staff. He currently runs a print and signage company from home.

His candidature has been endorsed by Ann Widdecombe, currently a Brexit Party MEP, but who herself represented Maidstone as its MP for the Tories for 23 years.

She said: "I congratulate Peter on being selected for my old seat of Maidstone and the Weald.

"He will bring enthusiasm, energy and business experience as a small employer and I have every confidence that he is the right person with his local connections and dedication."

Mr Reeves said: “I thought I was about to enjoy retirement until the current crop of Parliamentary MP’s (with a few exceptions) made me angry enough to want to do something about it and change that anger into hope.

"The Brexit Party is out to challenge the self-serving two-party system, to make the people sovereign, and to restore trust, truth, honesty and democracy into British politics.

"We will energise our town centres in this constituency by introducing zero business rates on the high street for retailers, offset by a small internet sales tax.

"We will cut student loan interest rates to zero to help our young adults.

"We will introduce free public wi-fi on all public transport, and of course, I will fight tooth and nail to finally get the City Thameslink service from Maidstone East delivered. The continual delays are unacceptable."

He said: "We already have a beautiful constituency, let’s make it a great place to live."

Mr Reeves will be taking on the incumbent MP, Conservative Helen Grant.

Other parties to have already declared their candidates are the Lib Dems with James Willis and the Greens with Stuart Jeffery, both familiar figures on the Maidstone political scene, and both supporting Remain.

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