Sky News's Niall Paterson had the story first on his Twitter feed: the veteran Conservative MP Sir Patrick Cormack is to stand down as MP for South Staffordshire at the general election.
Sir Patrick, who turned 70 this year, has represented his patch of Staffordshire under one boundary or another since 1970. He had been re-adopted to fight the seat in September 2007 after a deslection saga which had lasted for much of that year, but has now opted not to contest the general election next year. He recently courted controversy by suggesting that MPs' pay should be doubled and their allowances abolished.
Sir Patrick has just released the following statement:
"I have informed the Leader of the Opposition, the Speaker, and the Chairman of South Staffordshire Conservative Association that, after a great deal of careful thought, and family discussions, I have most reluctantly decided not to offer myself for re-election at the next General Election. I have been immensely proud to have been a Staffordshire Member in the world’s greatest Parliament for close on forty years, much more than half my life. I regard membership of the House of Commons as the highest honour to which any British subject can aspire and I shall always be grateful to have had the opportunity, and the great privilege, of serving my country and my constituency at Westminster.
"I am most anxious to continue to work for some of the causes I have campaigned for over the years but I have recently had my third severe attack of bronchitis in two years and my doctor tells me I really ought to cut down on my normal ‘term time’ working week of 70 to 80 hours. The unhappy events of recent months in Parliament have made those hours much more of a burden than they used to be and it is also becoming increasingly clear that the new House of Commons will be very different from the old. Sadly, I have come to the conclusion that it is right that I should hand the torch to a younger man or woman, someone who will, as I have done, be able to offer many years of service to the people of South Staffordshire."
South Staffordshire is a safe Conservative seat, although the Rallings and Thrasher notional result of the 2005 general election (suggesting a Conservative majority of 8,346) is somewhat anomalous as it was based on a lower than usual turnout, albeit with a considerable drop in the Labour vote: during the 2005 campaign the death of the Lib Dem candidate meant that the poll had to be deferred until a separate day in June.
Sir Patrick's announcement at this juncture will ensure that his association will not have a shortlist of three imposed on them from CCHQ - as will be the case for any MP announcing they are stepping down after January 1st. I have previously stated my belief that MPs should make their intentions clear before Christmas and have a running list here of those MPs who have explicitly confirmed to us that they intend seeking re-election next year.
3.45pm update:
David Cameron has released the following statement:
"I am extremely grateful to Sir Patrick Cormack for his long-standing and committed service to his constituency and to our Parliament. As Chairman of the Northern Ireland Select Committee, as warden of St Margaret's, Westminster, and as a leading backbencher, Sir Patrick has been an outstanding servant of our Parliamentary democracy. At the next election, we will be losing a great friend to the Party and to our Parliament."
Jonathan Isaby
