Dr Bastian Seidel has pulled the plug on his political career, saying his brief time in politics has left him disillusioned, bitter and sad.

The former RACGP president claimed that too often he had been “a pawn in somebody else’s stupid game”.

As a result, he will resign at the end of the year, just 18 months into his six-year term in Tasmania’s upper house.

Dr Seidel, a GP in Huonville, south of Hobart, was elected representing Labor in the seat of Huon last August and quickly promoted, being named shadow health spokesperson earlier this year.