Anne Main will stand as a Conservative candidate for St Albans at the next general election.

A meeting at the St Albans Conservative Association on Thursday agreed Mrs Main should take the fight for a fifth time, despite the MP having voted leave during the European Union in a constituency that predominately voted to remain.

Over 60 per cent of people in St Albans voted to remain in the EU at the referendum in 2016.

Following the meeting of the association, Mrs Main stressed that the referendum result had to be honoured and had received threatening emails over the debate.

She said: “Our politics has become extremely polarised in the last few years, but we must deliver Brexit and move on from this debate.

“Before the House returned this week, I received highly abusive emails, including a death threat, which have resulted in an arrest. It is not right that anyone should be shouted down or abused, regardless of which side of the debate they are on.”

But Mrs Main said she is delighted to fight at the next general election and it has been an honour to represent St Albans for the last 14 years.

In that time she has won four election campaigns in 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2017.

She said: “We don’t know exactly when the next election will be, but I hope opposition MPs will vote for an election soon. As I said during the Prime Minister’s statement this week, it is not right that we have a government in office but not in power.

“The public should have their say in a general election. I believe the next election will be one of the most important we have ever had.

“Simply, the public have the choice between a Conservative government that believes in democracy and will uphold the 2016 referendum result and will boost public services.”

Claudio Duran, Chairman of the St Albans Conservatives Association added: “Personally, I have found Anne to be committed, passionate and always hardworking for the well-being of our residents.

“Anne has been transparent, skilful and charitable to groups that need her support, sharing residents values that time and time again have seen her re-elected.”