David Taylor MP to stand down

Another MP announces he won't fight the next general election

Statement from David Taylor MP:

"As those who attended will already know, at last Thursday’s meeting of the North West Leicestershire Constituency Labour Party at the Springboard Centre, Coalville, I announced that I would not be standing for re-election at the General Election – to be held by June 2010.  This is to be announced to the local media under embargo until midnight tonight but I wanted you to hear it first direct from me.
 
I was first selected as your parliamentary candidate in 1989 and first elected as MP in 1997 with a majority of 13219, re-elected in 2001 with a majority of 8157 and in 2005 with one of 4477.  It is an enormous privilege to have been selected by my party as its parliamentary candidate for my life-time home area on 5 occasions and to have been able to represent it at Westminster since 1997. It seems likely that this parliament will run close to its full 5 year span and I believe now is the time for us to commence the process of selecting a new candidate.
 
This area has changed dramatically over recent years – economically, with prosperity and new jobs have come one of the lowest unemployment rates in the region, environmentally, with the scars of mining and mineral extraction now substantially restored – particularly with the National Forest - and socially, with a growing population benefiting from significantly better public services.
 
Almost all schools have seen major investment, results are better and fabric transformed. The NHS is sharply improved, whilst the Leicestershire police are seen as about the finest in the land. Pensioner and child poverty have seen major reductions
 
We can be collectively proud of so many achievements, whilst acknowledging much remains to be done. All of us believe that our government, with its many successes and with its occasional disappointments along the way, is always the best option for delivering what the great majority of people in areas like ours want and need.
 
Our prospects of holding this seat remain good and I hope to be a part of the campaign to secure a victory here and nationally in 2009/ 2010.
 
I am planning to return to my former lives in accountancy, local government and higher education. But for the next two years, I shall try to do what I have always tried to do – devote all of my energy to the role of MP which becomes more and more demanding as people’s expectations get higher and higher. I am immensely grateful to all who have supported me over the years with an average vote of over 25000, to all who have worked so hard in the party and to my family for their love and patience."

Display: Sort:

Re: David Taylor MP to stand down (#2)

Not that brilliant. He'll be 63 if a general election is held in June 2010, and 67/68 by the end of that term, an age by which the majority of people have retired. Seems fair enough to me to stand down now. Not every decision taken by a Labour MP is determined by what they perceive the general election result will be.

Re: David Taylor MP to stand down (#3)

Then again a lot of MP's see the writing on the wall, and do not feel like sitting in opposition.

Re: David Taylor MP to stand down (#4)

You'd be surprised; there is a small clique of MP's at Westminster who wold relish being in permanent Opposition so that they can say what they like, deluding themselves with power without responsibility.

Re: David Taylor MP to stand down (#5)

Not much power if you're in permanent opposition.

Didn't think that one through really, did you?

Re: David Taylor MP to stand down (#6)

Will there be a women only shortlist for this seat?