Epping Forest MP Dame Eleanor Laing to stand down at General Election
- Epping Forest MP Dame Eleanor Laing has today announced that she is to stand down at the General Election.
- The announcement was made in a letter to Epping Forest Conservative Association chairman Holly Whitbread.
"I have had the great honour and pleasure of representing the people of Epping Forest as their Member of Parliament for the last 27 years. I have also had the privilege of serving as Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons for over 10 years, the last 4 of which have been as Chairman of Ways and Means.
"It is very difficult to give up a job that you love. I have come to the conclusion, however, that it is now time for me to move aside and give others the opportunities that I have been so fortunate to have.
"I had hoped to meet you this weekend to tell you in person that I will not seek re-election at the end of this parliament. Now that the General Election has been called, that moment has come rather sooner than I had expected.
"Epping Forest is a marvellous constituency. Its towns and villages are full of character and the ancient Forest itself gives personality to the whole area. As the recent local election results showed, I have every confidence that we will win this great seat on 4th July.
"I also have every confidence that our Party will flourish. The British people need our principles and our values – responsibility, compassion and freedom.
"I will wholeheartedly continue to support the work of the Association and, whomever my successor might be, I will do all that I can to help in the forthcoming campaign."
