A CANDIDATE in the Hartlepool by-election has given up his well-paid job after an ultimatum from his boss to choose between the campaign or his work.

Businessman and former Conservative election hopeful Gus Robinson gave UK Independence Party candidate Stephen Allison 24 hours to make up his mind.

Yesterday, Mr Allison, a management consultant for Gus Robinson Development Limited, told his boss he would not pull out of the by-election.

Father-of-two Mr Allison, who is thought to have earned more than £30,000 a year, was Mr Robinson's agent during the 2001 General Election campaign.

Mr Robinson is still considering standing as an independent candidate in the by-election, expected to be next month, which has been prompted by Peter Mandelson's move to become EU Commissioner in Brussels.

He said last night that he initially gave 44-year-old Mr Allison his blessing to bid to replace Mr Mandelson as Hartlepool MP, but changed his mind after he returned from a five-week business trip to Spain.

Mr Robinson said: "When I was away, he told me he was considering standing and, consistent with my character, I said "if that's what you want to do'.

"Having thought about it overnight, I went back to him and said 'Steve, for a whole list of reasons, I really do not think that this is the correct thing to do', by which time he said he had the nomination, so it was a fait accompli.

"When he was appointed the UKIP candidate for the town, it was impossible for him to dedicate himself both to politics and the organisation.

"I merely asked him to examine his conscience and gave him various alternatives, and Steve has chosen the route he has chosen.

"He told me his heart was not in the job and he said he gets excited about politics, but does not get excited about the organisation."

Mr Allison said: "I consider Gus Robinson to be a friend and I am shocked by his ultimatum. I am not the sort of man to give up my political convictions in the face of bullying.

"When I told my family about the ultimatum, without hesitation they gave me their full and unconditional support to carry on with my fight to represent Hartlepool at Westminster.

"The most shocking thing about losing my job is that, three years ago, Gus Robinson asked me to be his agent when he stood as the Tory candidate in the General Election.

"Even though I was not a member of the Tory Party, I took the job because he is a friend. I actually took unpaid leave of absence to be his agent."

UKIP leader Roger Knapman said: "This is absolutely disgraceful. I have never heard of a prospective candidate being forced to choose between his livelihood and his political beliefs."