An island-based businessman has stood down as a Brexit Party candidate for the next general election.

Dennis Rogers was due to contest Warrington South at the next election, whenever that will be, and was one of 150 prospective parliamentary candidates unveiled by Nigel Farage’s party.

But the Brexit Party said today that he had withdrawn his candidature for personal reasons and business commitments.

'He has said he doesn't have the time to run a general election campaign,' said a party spokesman.

Mr Rogers was included among the batch of Westminster hopefuls named on August 5. The Brexit Party said: ’Today we announced 50 more high-calibre prospective parliamentary candidates.

’Our candidates will not stand for Mrs May’s treaty being repackaged, it is still the worst deal in history and a betrayal of leave voters.’

Mr Rogers, who lived in the island for about four years but is now resident in the UK, is the businessman behind the proposed development of a stretch of North Quay, Douglas which includes the former Newson’s building.

In his application (18/01329/B), which was granted planning consent in March, he gives his address as The Trafalgar on South Quay.

Mr Rogers formerly had a role with the Manx government, having been appointed an advisor in 2010 with the then Department of Economic Development’s small business start-up scheme.

He also has links to Arron Banks, the controversial businessman who is alleged to have bankrolled Brexit.

Mr Banks’ Manx-based business Rock Holding Ltd is under investigation by the National Crime Agency as being the source of a total of £8m in donations to pro-Brexit campaigns during the 2016 referendum, something he has always denied.

Mr Rogers was appointed Rock Holding’s nominated officer when the company moved its registered office to 16 Victoria Street, Douglas, in December last year.

Companies House in the UK lists Mr Rogers as a director of Mayfair-based Capital Providence Plc and gives his country of residence as the Isle of Man.

He was also chief executive officer of asset management firm Etaireia Investment PLC which was in talks to buy a portfolio of assets from then Blackpool FC owner Owen Oyston in October last year.

He stepped down as director from Etaireia with immediate effect in March this year to ’pursue commitments outside the company’.

Warrington South voted 51.1% to leave the EU in the referendum.

The Brexit Party says it is ’ready to fight in every seat to secure the Brexit that 17.4m voted for’.