Former opposition leader Brendan Neilson has announced today he will step down from his parliamentary obligations and quit politics at the end of the month.

An emotional Dr Nelson fronted the media in Sydney, confirming the speculation that has brewed since he announced in February this year he would not contest the next election.

The 51 year-olds decision has shaken his Liberal Party, forcing a by-election for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Bradfield, which he currently holds.

Dr Nelson said that it was in the best interest of the party and the up coming electorate that he makes the decision now, rather than just prior to the nearing election.

“I feel at the moment, having decided not to return to the frontbench of the Liberal Party, nor indeed to seek the leadership of the Party at any time in the future, that the best thing that I can do … is now give the people of Bradfield an opportunity to choose the new, energetic member,” Nelson said.

A doctor by profession, Nelson rose to prominence as the Federal President of the Australian Medical Association in 1993 and was elected into Parliament three years later, serving as Minister for Education, Science and Training in the Howard government.

Following Howard’s defeat in the 2007 federal election, Dr Nelson was elected as new leader of the Liberal party, but he lasted less than a year after a spill motion by the party saw him replaced by Malcolm Turnbull.

Despite media reports claiming he had ill feelings towards Turnbull and the Liberal government, Dr Nelson was today all supportive and urged his colleagues to get behind the party and its current leader.

“I think it’s important that all Liberals do whatever we can to support our Liberal leadership,” Nelson said.

“It’s been a great honour for me to have worked with John Howard and Peter Costello and a team of men and women who oversaw and undertook the economic and social reconstruction of Australia after the last Labour government.”

Nelson’s announcement comes just months after popular Liberal figure Peter Costello’s decision to step away from politics.

WHAT’S YOUR OPINION?

Do you think Brendan Nelson was a good politician?

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