A self-made Gloucestershire businessman has been announced as a parliamentary candidate for the Brexit Party in the Cotswolds constituency.

Peter Udale is described as a successful entrepreneur who has lived in the Cotswolds for over 25 years.

The Cambridge University graduate worked for seven years in finance in London, New York and Tokyo before setting up his own consultancy business in 1994 providing planning and risk management advice to companies, both in the UK and abroad.

He moved to the Cotswolds in 1994, where he expanded his company from offices based in Moreton-in-Marsh.

Since retiring in 2016 he has volunteered as a business mentor for the Gloucestershire branch of the Fredericks Foundation, helping disadvantaged entrepreneurs set up new businesses.

He is also a business mentor to a number of tech venture spin-outs at Imperial College, London.

Mr Udale, who will be standing against current incumbent, Conservative MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, said: "I am standing to represent The Cotswolds constituency to ensure that Parliament actually gets on with implementing the result of the EU Referendum.

"While Boris Johnson is a welcome relief after Theresa May, it remains doubtful whether a

deeply divided Conservative Party will allow Boris to make good on his promises."

He added: "After nearly ten years of Conservative government our Cotswold schools are significantly underfunded compared to the rest of the country. I will campaign for fairer funding for our schools."

He said he would also campaign for more police numbers in the district and investment in infrastructure.

Punchline noted that Mr Udale's Linkedin page placed him in Dowdeswell, Gloucestershire. A certain other well-known Dowdeswell resident and businessman, one Julian Dunkerton, has campaigned in favour of remain. Who wonders how cordial relations are in that part of Cheltenham.