Fort McMurray MLA Mike Allen back in Alberta Tory caucus

Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA Mike Allen has been invited back into the Progressive Conservative caucus.

The decision was reached on Monday after a majority of caucus members voted to allow Allen back in. 

"I'm very pleased," Allen said. "It's been a long year. It has always been my intent to try and return to the government caucus but really that was up to their determination and I'm grateful that they have trusted me to come back."

The longtime Tory MLA left caucus after he was arrested in a prostitution sting in Minnesota in July 2013.

• MLA Mike Allen pleads guilty to misdemeanour charge 
• Alberta MLA Mike Allen charged in U.S. prostitution case

Allen was attending a conference at the time as a representative of the government of Alberta. 

Allen was originally charged with soliciting a prostitute but later accepted a plea deal that reduced the charge to a misdemeanour.

He pleaded guilty to the charge last December and paid a $500 fine and court costs.

Allen remained in the legislature as an independent MLA after he stepped down from the Tory caucus.