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Annette Brooke MP to stand down at next election (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Annette Brooke MP to stand down at next election
12:00pm Friday 8th March 2013 in News
Annette Brooke MP to stand down at next election
ANNETTE Brooke MP has announced she is to stand down at the next election.
The MP for mid-Dorset and north Poole told the Echo she felt it was “absolutely the right time to stand down” and was looking forward to a retirement away from the rigours of Westminster and constituency work.
The hardworking MP, who was elected in 2001, will not stand again in 2015.
She said: “People have known privately for some time that I wasn't going to stand for re-election in 2015, mainly because it's time for me to retire from full time work - I shall be 68 by then.”
The MP, who broke her hip and wrist in a fall last year, added: “I think I'd decided I wasn't standing before that - but that was really hard going up on the train on crutches after that.
!It's not the sort of job where you can take six months off after a bad accident - I was back on the job just as soon as I possibly could be, but I think it took a lot out of me. I am only now beginning to feel 100 per cent recovered.”
During her 12 years in Parliament Mrs Brooke, who was awarded her OBE for public and political service at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, has been spokeswoman for education and children.
She described being an MP as “an amazing experience,” citing winning the Female MP of the Year Award in the Dods and Scottish Widows Women in Public Life Awards among her proudest achievements, as well as her work on children's issues and solving constituents' problems.
The former Borough of Poole councillor and town mayor said she had “nothing lined up” for retirement, but hoped to spend more time with her family in Dorset, including her granddaughter, and continue her support for a number of charities of which she is patron, including Julia's House and Diverse Abilities Plus.
“Certainly lots of people wanted me to go on and on and on and I think that would be a mistake,” she added. “I have a lot more I want to do and I have two years to do it - that certainly focuses the mind. I shall be fully active right up until the election, and keep working at the same pace as I have always done.”
The Liberal Democrat party has started its selection process for a new constituency candidate.
Comments(31)
losthope
says...
12:42pm Fri 8 Mar 13
BmthNewshound
says...
12:45pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Letcommonsenseprevail
says...
12:53pm Fri 8 Mar 13
aerolover wrote:Yes.
Is she going before she looses her seat?
Old Contemptible
says...
1:04pm Fri 8 Mar 13
KayKay23
says...
1:07pm Fri 8 Mar 13
I remember meeting her a few years back when I was part of a youth group trying to make Upton and Lytchett Minster a better place for younger people. She is the kindest MP I have ever heard of.
I hope she has a happy retirement!
You will definitely be missed though Annette!
muscliffman
says...
1:22pm Fri 8 Mar 13
But who would wish to be a Liberal Democrat candidate in the next election? Any clues who may be the future UKIP candidate for this constituency........
.....
Dr Strangelove
says...
1:22pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Time_Traveller
says...
1:38pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Dr Strangelove wrote:No, he's still on the take ...... I mean his set - but he's seen in Parliament about as often as a rabbit going voluntarily into a fox lair .......
I thought the other MP for poole had gone too.
dorsetred
says...
2:19pm Fri 8 Mar 13
BH18
says...
3:20pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Seabeam
says...
3:37pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Now let me move on to the election of Drax, his presence in parliment proves how disfunctional this so called democracy is.
A fortune on the back of slavery and still manipulating to his own advantage from the seat of power. Now making millions from EU subsidies, that is why we are in this EU fiasco.
pooleres
says...
3:41pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Whatever happened to the old maxim that if you can't say something good about someone don't say anything at all?
rogerlu
says...
4:54pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Victor_Meldrew_Lives!
says...
4:55pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Always used to be a Conservative seat and if they want a majority in the next parliament they have to win seats like this.
First of all they'll need a decent candidate with a mind of their own.
Wouldn't hold out too much hope of that....
simcal
says...
5:07pm Fri 8 Mar 13
LetcommonsenseprevaiHardly. She is 68 at the next election and it's an honorable thing for her to retire. No doubt some grasping sleaze bag will be elected to this seat, but this lady was one of the few decent MP's.
l wrote:
aerolover wrote:Yes.
Is she going before she looses her seat?
SeafaringMan
says...
5:57pm Fri 8 Mar 13
aerolover wrote:How 'loose' would you like it to be?
Is she going before she looses her seat?
Letcommonsenseprevail
says...
6:31pm Fri 8 Mar 13
pooleres wrote:Oh the irony of what you've just written...........!!
Echo comments certainly prove that there's some bitter, cynical people around.
Whatever happened to the old maxim that if you can't say something good about someone don't say anything at all?
Letcommonsenseprevail
says...
6:32pm Fri 8 Mar 13
simcal wrote:I was merely stating a fact - she IS going before she loses her seat!! Whether it's to AVOID losing her seat is a different question!!
LetcommonsenseprevaiHardly. She is 68 at the next election and it's an honorable thing for her to retire. No doubt some grasping sleaze bag will be elected to this seat, but this lady was one of the few decent MP's.
l wrote:
aerolover wrote:Yes.
Is she going before she looses her seat?
boyerboy
says...
7:23pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Apparently he visits us???????
Yankee1
says...
10:24pm Fri 8 Mar 13
dorsetred wrote:Putting up with comments like yours.
Nice pension for 12 yrs of what ?
She gets paid....you get nothing. Life is unfair, what?
hamworthygirl
says...
1:48am Sat 9 Mar 13
billd766
says...
1:59am Sat 9 Mar 13
Why don't YOU put yourself up at the next general election as an independent candidate.
I am sure with all the support you get on the letters page you will gain the majority of votes and become the MP for mid-Dorset and north Poole.
jill M
says...
9:07am Sat 9 Mar 13
Letcommonsenseprevail
says...
11:23am Sat 9 Mar 13
jill M wrote:Let's put this into perspective - she was only DOING HER JOB! Doing what you and I pay her to do.
Annette Brooke has worked hard and well for her constituency, I know of several people whom she has helped, I wrote to her once and she not only replied, she raised the question I asked with the appropriate minister, and then wrote again. I do not support her politics, but I can guarantee that her successor will not be so accessible or helpful. Enjoy your retirement Annette, you deserve it.
mouse66
says...
12:18pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Ebb Tide
says...
1:47pm Sat 9 Mar 13
We have a current example that also raises our standards when it comes to electing another representative for us all. Where is the person that can be similarly trusted to advance our various concerns so vigorously ?
Annette has helpfully given us some time to find such a person and maybe challenged us to ensure 'others' (that have not served us so well) are replaced by more suitable people.
Ebb Tide
says...
5:10pm Sat 9 Mar 13
muscliffman wrote:Liberal Democracy (as operated in North Poole) is a highly respected and valued political stance that has withstood the test of time and which others will be hard pushed to even emulate let alone exceed !
One of our few local MPs in Parliament for the right reasons, even if you disagreed with her views at times.
But who would wish to be a Liberal Democrat candidate in the next election? Any clues who may be the future UKIP candidate for this constituency........
.....
Adjoining constituencies should also take note and ensure that they elect candidates for 2015 capable of being similarly respected and valued. It should ensure the views of the electorate are properly represented and not ignored.
portia6
says...
5:27pm Sat 9 Mar 13
retirement, always seemed to be very
helpful and worked hard!
The Liberal
says...
9:24am Mon 11 Mar 13
LetcommonsenseprevaiHow do you know the seat will be lost? Got a crystal ball? The Eastleigh result proved that the Lib Dems can still win seats, particularly if the Tories lose votes to UKIP.
l wrote:
simcal wrote:I was merely stating a fact - she IS going before she loses her seat!! Whether it's to AVOID losing her seat is a different question!!
LetcommonsenseprevaiHardly. She is 68 at the next election and it's an honorable thing for her to retire. No doubt some grasping sleaze bag will be elected to this seat, but this lady was one of the few decent MP's.
l wrote:
aerolover wrote:Yes.
Is she going before she looses her seat?
I'm sad to see Annette go as she is a good MP, as many others have said.
rosalind
says...
2:46pm Sat 16 Mar 13
LetcommonsenseprevaiShe was doing her job a great deal better than the majority of MPs! Even her serious accident did not prevent her getting in to her surgeries. And from speaking to people I understand she got real results for constituents who had problems. Give her the credit which is her due!
l wrote:
jill M wrote:Let's put this into perspective - she was only DOING HER JOB! Doing what you and I pay her to do.
Annette Brooke has worked hard and well for her constituency, I know of several people whom she has helped, I wrote to her once and she not only replied, she raised the question I asked with the appropriate minister, and then wrote again. I do not support her politics, but I can guarantee that her successor will not be so accessible or helpful. Enjoy your retirement Annette, you deserve it.
aerolover says...
12:03pm Fri 8 Mar 13