THE stand down by Tory MP Chris Davies in the contest for the Ynys Môn seat in North Wales has been hailed as the “right decision” by the Home Secretary.

In an exclusive interview, during a visit to the North Wales Chronicle office in Colwyn Bay, Priti Patel said: “He has done the right thing.”

Mrs Patel was visiting the Penrhyn Road offices of the Chronicle, Pioneer, Rhyl Journal and Denbighshire Free Press, newspapers on Wednesday morning, with Dr James Davies the Vale of Clwyd candidate.

Chris Davies was convicted of faking expenses claims hours after it was announced he would stand.

He will no longer contest the new Ynys Mon seat in the December 12 General Election.

Chris Davies said: “Given the reaction in the media to the idea of me being a candidate, I have decided to pull out of the selection process. I would not want to put my wife and family through any more distress.”

Mrs Patel said: “Chris Davies has done the right thing by standing down. He reached that decision by himself, and I think what is needed now is that we move on.”

Mr Davies was sacked as MP for Brecon and Radnorshire in June after a recall petition was signed by more than 10,000 people was sparked by his conviction for faking expenses claims.

He then lost to Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds in a subsequent by-election.

Plaid Cymru candidate Aled ap Dafydd said: “By imposing a convicted former MP who was found guilty of a false expenses claim as the candidate for the island shows how little they care about Ynys Mon. It makes a mockery of the people of the island.”

Ynys Môn Labour’s candidate Mary Roberts said: “Chris Davies was kicked out by the people of Brecon and Radnorshire.

“It’s insulting to the people of Ynys Môn for the Conservatives to now parachute him in as a parliamentary candidate. Unsurprisingly he’s been forced to withdraw. Anglesey deserves better than this.”

Deputy leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Baroness Christine Humphreys, said: “By selecting Chris Davies to contest Ynys Mon, the Conservatives have demonstrated their utter contempt for the voters of Ynys Mon.”

Welsh Conservative Assembly Member Nick Ramsay said: “As John Major once said, when the curtain falls, it’s time to leave the stage.”

Helen Jenner, Brexit Party Candidate for Ynys Mon said:

"It was the right thing for Chris Davies to do. What on earth the Conservatives were thinking putting him forward in the first place completely baffles me.

"The people of Ynys Mon do not suffer fools gladly, so I'm not at all surprised that he was met with fierce criticism."

Mr Davies was convicted in March after he admitted submitting two false expenses invoices for nine photographs costing £700 to decorate his new office.

He was fined £1,500, ordered to pay £2,500 towards legal costs and told to carry out 50 hours of community service.

The confirmed parliamentary candidates for Ynys Mon are Mary Roberts, Labour, Aled ap Dafydd, Plaid Cymru, and Helen Jenner, Brexit Party.