ONE of Warrington’s MPs has announced that she will not be standing for re-election at the next General Election.
Helen Southworth, Labour MP for Warrington South, says she has not made a “sudden decision” but has decided to stand down as a result of a lot of thought over the last 12 month.
She also wants to give local Labour Party chiefs time to find a replacement candidate.
Mrs Southworth (pictured) said: “For 12 years now I have had the tremendous privilege of representing the people of our constituency in Parliament.
“As I go round Warrington and talk to people I keep realising over and over the huge positive changes brought by our Labour Government. It has been a privilege to be part of improving life for local people. I also really value the personal support and friendship I have received from so many people in Warrington.”
“It is always very hard to decide it is time to move on. This is not a sudden decision but the result of a lot of thought over the last year as to whether I should stand again for Parliament at the next election.”
Coun Steve Wright, chairman of Warrington South Constituency Labour Party, said:
“Helen has worked extremely hard for 12 years as our local Member of Parliament and we are very proud of her and what she has achieved. We know she will carry on doing her best for local people right up to Election Day. She wants to move on from Parliament then for family reasons and to focus on work to protect vulnerable children. We support her absolutely.”
“Warrington South Labour Party will choose a Parliamentary candidate in the next few weeks. We will all work together with Helen, to let people know what the Labour Government has achieved for local families and communities, and to elect a Labour MP in Warrington South at the next election”.
MP to quit at General Election
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
6 Comments
12 years of representing a town she couldn’t even be bothered moving to!
Lets hope they select a local politican this time and not worry too much about the gender and instead concentrate on picking th ebest person for the job!
Have a happy retirement Helen – I know it wasn’t your fault they want for a women only shortlist last time!
Jump before push?
Her fellow Warrington Blair Babe has just been promoted to Master of the Bedchamber or some such silly title, it will be a nice increase in her pension to go with her and her husband’s Job Seeker Allowances.
Well its time for true representation of this town. Jo Crotty for MP. Maybe Mowat should try some flipping like his mate Osbourne.
Active said “Well its time for true representation of this town.”
Do you mean as representitive as you can be when you happen to live in Birmingham like Jo Grotty does?
As for Southwaorth; exactly what HAS she done which has been so beneficial to the town over the past 12 years which has probably cost us in excess of £2 million in salary and expenses?
Surely that money would have been better spent elsewhere as the saying goes!
David Mowat will neither be “flipping” nor claiming a second home allowance, and I suggest that you visit his website regarding his Expenses Covenant with the people of Warrington South, whom he hopes to represent in Parliament.
http://www.davidmowat.org/downloads_Mowat%20Expenses%20Policy.htm
Jo Crotty will not become the next Warrington South MP, indeed her party’s support for her will now wane, after the lamentable Lib Dem performance in the European Elections, where they boasted of pushing Labour in to second place, yet came a very poor third, with the Conservatives topping the polls.
With regards to Mrs Southworth, I wish her well when she retires from Parliament at the next election.
Can David Mowat not speak for himself – surely you know better than any one the benefits of speaking for yourself!