She said London was her home, but just weeks later, former mayor Dianne Haskett has picked-up and moved back to Washington.

Her decision to leave is at direct odds with her public statement the night she lost to Liberal Glen Pearson in November's federal byelection.

At that time, she told supporters she planned to stay in London and seek the conservative nomination in the next general election.

Before her brief return to London to run in the byelection, she and her family had spent the past six years in the washington area.

In a message on her website dated December 28th, Haskett wishes "her beloved city a fond farewell" and "trusts Londoners will understand her departing to Washington to continue her life there with her husband Jack."

The former mayor arrived back in London in October as an eleventh hour candidate for the conservative nomination to run in the London North Centre byelection.

She finished third, behind Pearson, and Green Party leader Elizabeth May.