Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Truro and Falmouth withdrew from the General Election race after being "overpaid housing and related benefits"

Mystery had surrounded Hanna Toms withdrawal from the race, after she released a statement earlier this year citing “personal reasons”.

Ms Toms, who is already a Cornwall Councillor for Falmouth’s Penwerris ward, had been due to stand in the much-contested seat come May 7.

She also said she would stand down as Leader of the Labour group on Cornwall Council.

However in a statement Ms Toms said she had been overpaid housing and related benefits after failing to inform Cornwall Council of changes in her income.

In a statement Ms Toms said: "In the last few months, I was contacted concerning an issue with Housing Benefit I had been receiving.

“After co-operating fully to clarify my entitlement, I was advised that I had been overpaid Housing and related benefits. This came as a great shock.

“The problem arose because I was under the impression that as I had advised HMRC of my changes in income, that information would then be passed on to the council.

“I was wrong. I fully accept that it was my responsibility to have advised the council of any change in circumstances and I failed to do this.

“It was a genuine mistake. On being advised of the situation, I have paid back all the benefits I received that I was not entitled to.

“In the interests of openness and transparency, I wish to apologise publicly for my mistake.

“This has been a very difficult time for me and my family and I want to now focus on representing the residents within my division to the best of my ability."

Ms Toms continues to represent the constituents of Falmouth Penwerris ward as their councillor.