Hunter MP to fight for his Swansea seat

NSW MP Garry Edwards, who was expelled from the Liberal Party over a donation scandal, has announced he will contest his seat of Swansea as an independent.

Mr Edwards was sidelined from his party last month after revelations at an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry in 2014.

ICAC heard Mr Edwards received about $1500 from banned property donor and former Lord Mayor of Newcastle Jeff McCloy in the lead-up to the 2011 state election.

Mr Edwards denied any wrongdoing.

"The ongoing community support that I have received, particularly in the last six months, greatly influenced my decision," he said in a statement on Friday.

He told ABC radio on Friday he was "sad" he was no longer a member of the Liberal Party.

Earlier this year he said his expulsion was being used as a "political pawn" in a factional war over an unnamed electorate in Western Sydney.

The Liberal Party is yet to preselect a candidate for Swansea.

The NSW state election will be held on March 28.