Charles ’Buster’ Lewin has decided he won’t stand in the Douglas South by-election after all - saying he doesn’t want to expose himself to the risk of catching coronavirus.

He announced this week that he was intending to put his name forward for election to the House of Keys.

Mr Lewin has a somewhat chequered history - including being jailed for three and a half years for his role in dishonestly securing proxy votes in the 2010 Douglas East by-election.

He admitted charges of conspiracy to effect legal purpose by improper means, conspiracy to steal, and conspiracy to forge.

Mr Lewin was also declared bankrupt in 2015 and was dismissed as clerk to Braddan Commissioners in 2007.

Commissioners agreed to settle his claim for unfair dismisasal when he took his case to the employment tribunal.

But this afternoon he posted: ’After lengthy consideration and taking professional advice I have decided not to proceed with my nomination for Douglas South by-election.

’I would be exposing myself to the virus as I have an underlying medical problems.

’When one knocks on the door it is normal to shake hands and by not doing so the electorate could assume they weren’t clean in my mind.’

He said he had been approached by another potential candidate who he ’personally believed will make an excellent MHK’.

And he said his good friend and carer is not in the best of health.

’It goes without saying that this has been penned with a heavy heart as I have always wanted to stand in an MHK election,' he said.