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Charlie Elphicke has stood down as the Conservative candidate for Dover and Deal to fight allegations he sexually assaulted two women in incidents a decade apart.
The seat will instead be contested by his wife Natalie, the local Conservative association said.
The former MP for Dover allegedly kissed and groped one of the women in June 2007, three years before he was elected to Parliament.
He is also accused of twice sexually assaulting a second woman on days in April and May 2016.
Mr Elphicke pleaded not guilty to three charges of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court last month.
The former government whip was freed on unconditional bail until the trial.
Mr Elphicke, who has represented the Kent constituency since 2010, lost the Tory whip in 2017 when allegations of sexual assault were referred to the police.
He was readmitted to the party in December last year prior to a confidence vote in then-Prime Minister Theresa May, but was again suspended when he was formally charged in July this year.
His wife, Natalie, was formally selected as the Conservative candidate for the seat after local members voted to adopt her on Friday.
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the campaign trail on Thursday
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Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie (right) and party General Election campaign chairman Alex Cole-Hamilton on the General Election campaign trail in Blackhall, Edinburgh
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson tries his hand at making an Antony Gormley inspired clay figure during an arts class whilst visiting the George Spencer Academy in Nottingham, while on the General Election campaign trail around the country
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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn unveils the Labour battle bus while on the General Election campaign trail in Liverpool
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Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson helps quality control staff during a general election campaign visit to the Tayto Castle crisp factory in County Armagh, Northern Ireland
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the campaign trail on Thursday
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Brexit party leader Nigel Farage eats fish and chips from Whitehaven Fish Bar Takeaway Restaurant during a walkabout after attending an election campaign even
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Boris Johnson at Downing Street
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Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson attends an election campaign event in Golders Green
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Carrie Symonds shares a picture of Dilyn the dog ready for the General Election
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Boris Johnson speaks to staff at the East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge
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Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage during a visit to Bolsover Boxing Club near Chesterfield in Derbyshire
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Britain’s opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn delivers a speech during their election campaign event on Brexit in Harlow
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Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street on route to Buckingham Palace ahead of an audience with Queen Elizabeth II and the formal start of the General Election
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon holds a guitar as she visits Dalkeith Community Hub with Owen Thompson, SNP election candidate for Midlothian
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Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage addresses supporters at the Washington Central Hotel in Workington
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Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie (right) and party General Election campaign chairman Alex Cole-Hamilton on the General Election campaign trail in Blackhall, Edinburgh
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Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson during a visit to Sigma Pharmaceuticals in North Watford
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Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage stops for a pint of beer with the party’s candidate for Ashfield Martin Daubney (right) during a campaigning stop in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
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Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice poses as he wears boxing gloves at a general election campaign event at Bolsover Boxing Club in Chesterfield
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Jeremy Corbyn kisses Emily Thornbury’s hand in Battersea
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Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson takes a selfie as she appears on BBCC’s The Andrew Marr Show
BBC/AFP via Getty Images
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Jeremy Corbyn prepares to launch the Labour Party’s election campaign in south London
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SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon helps to serve soup during a visit to the Lochside Community Centre in Dumfries, to meet voters and activists while on the General Election campaign.
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Nigel Farage at the Brexit Party’s election campaign launch
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Boris Johnson looks at old photographs of London with students at Abbots Green Primary Academy in Bury St Edmunds
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Nigel Farage on The Andrew Marr Show
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SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has a coffee in Cafe Gelato, Rutherglen
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Jacob Rees-Mogg arrives at Downing Street in London
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Jeremy Corbyn meeting the party faithful during a rally while on the campaign trail in Swindon
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Larry the cat walks outside Downing Street
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Boris Johnson as he leaves 10 Downing Street
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Nigel Farage gives the thumbs up
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Jeremy Corbyn takes a selfie while on the General Election campaign trail in Milton Keynes
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Government advisor Dominic Cummings walks along Whitehall on his way to Downing Street wearing a bulldog clip
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Mr Elphicke said he has stood down to fight the allegations against him in court.
He said: “Representing Dover & Deal has been the greatest honour and privilege of my life. I’m incredibly proud of what our Conservative team has achieved working together for our community.
“I am standing down today with huge regret, because it seems that we no longer abide by the basic British value of an individual being deemed innocent unless and until proven otherwise in a fair trial.
“That sacred principle of our national life has been sacrificed in the current climate – as became clear with the false pursuit of baseless allegations against high profile individuals, some of whom were smeared beyond the grave.
“In my case, I have been subjected to daily falsehoods and vile abuse – from the malfeasance of cabinet ministers to the malice of twitter trolls.
“This has had the cumulative effect of jeopardising my right to a fair trial on charges I know to be baseless. That is why, having continued to work tirelessly for my constituents since these allegations were first made two years ago, I have now decided to stand down at this Election.”
Mrs Elphicke, who works as a volunteer with a local night shelter, said: “I am delighted to have been adopted as the Conservative candidate for Dover and Deal.
“Our Conservative team has achieved so much since 2010 – and I am looking forward to building on these tremendous achievements.
“This election is about the future. And the choice is simple. To get Brexit done and move forward with the Conservatives, or stay in Europe forever and go backwards with Jeremy Corbyn.
“I will fight tirelessly to deliver better healthcare, more jobs and money, better schools, high quality affordable housing, more police on our streets – and stronger, more secure borders.
“The choice facing voters here as elsewhere in the UK is stark: a vote for anyone other than the Conservatives is a vote for Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister.
“Working together here in Dover and Deal, I know we can avoid that nightmare, return a Conservative government and together build a brighter future for Britain while delivering for Dover & Deal.”
Dover and Deal Conservatives Association chairman Keith Single said: “We considered matters most carefully and it is clear to us that Natalie will be an outstanding candidate for the Conservatives in Dover & Deal.
“She has loyally and effectively campaigned for the Conservatives over the past 30 years, and with us in Dover and Deal for over a decade. Nationally, she has led a government review into housing policy and been director of the Conservative party’s policy forum.
“Her expertise in national policy combined with her experience of local constituency issues makes Natalie a first class Conservative candidate.
“We know that Natalie will continue to ensure that Dover and Deal has a strong, independent and Conservative voice in Parliament.”
