Sir John Butterfill, MP for Bournemouth West for 25 years, has told his Association that he intends to stand down at the next election.
Speaking to his local paper, Sir John said:
"I would have stayed had there been an election last autumn and was selected to do so, by which time I would be in my 70th year. If I stayed on for five years I'd be 75 so that was probably a bit long. I've now got seven grandchildren with an eighth about to arrive at the end of this month. I'd like to see a bit more of them than I have done with my own children."
The seat has a notional Conservative majority over the LibDems of 2600.
Click continue to see the Party's synopsis of his career...
John was educated at Caterham School, and the College of Estate Management, London. He is married to Pamela with three daughters and one son.
John is a member of the Courts of Reading, Southampton and Exeter Universities, he holds numerous voluntary appointments to local trade and charitable organisations, and is a member of the Council of Management of the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals.
His business appointments include: Chairman, Conservation Investments Group; President, European Property Associates; Director, Delphi Group Plc (1996 - 1999); Director, Miller Non Marine Ltd (1997 - 1999); Consultant, Curchod & Co (1992 - ); and Fellow, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
John's Experience
John has been the Member of Parliament for Bournemouth West since 1983.
He successfully piloted a Private Member's Bill through the House of Commons - the Registered Homes (Amendment) Act 1991 - to give greater protection to residents of small care homes. He also guided the Insolvency (Amendment) Act 1994 and the Policy Holders Protection Act 1997 through the House of Commons.
His parliamentary appointments presently include: Member of the Speaker's Panel of Chairmen (from 1996); Member of the Trade and Industry Select Committee (1992 - 2001); Member of the Select Committee on Unopposed Bills (1995 - ); Trustee of the Parliamentary Pension Scheme (1997 - 2001) and Chairman of the Trustees from 2001 onwards; Chairman of Trustees, Parliamentary Members' Fund (1997 - 2002); Member of Parliamentary Court of Referees (1995 - ). John is also Chairman of the All Party Group on Occupational Pensions (from 1992); Vice-Chairman of the All Party Group on Building Societies (1997 - ); and Joint-Secretary of the All Party Group on Insurance and Financial Services (1997 - ).
His Conservative Party responsibilities include: Treasurer of the 1922 Committee, which he has held since 2001; Chairman, Party Rules Committee (1988 - ); Member, Party Constitutional Committee (1988 - 2002 ); Vice-Chairman, Conservative Friends of Israel Parliamentary Group (1995 - ); Vice-Chairman, Conservative Parliamentary Finance Committee (1992 - 2000).
Previously, John was Parliamentary Private Secretary to Cecil Parkinson (Secretary of State for Energy from August 1988 to August 1989, Secretary of State for Transport from August 1989 to December 1990). He was Parliamentary Private Secretary to Brian Mawhinney, Minister of State for Northern Ireland, from 1991-92.
Other previous appointments include: Chairman of the Conservative Parliamentary European Affairs Committee (1995-97); Vice-President of the Conservative Group for Europe (1992-95) and Chairman (1989-92); Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Forum (1983-1992); Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Parliamentary Tourism Committee (1985-88); Secretary of the Conservative Parliamentary Trade and Industry Committee (1987-88); Vice-Chairman, Guildford Conservative Association; and Chairman, Addlestone Young Conservatives.
He was knighted in December 2003 for services to Parliament.
