Andrew Lansley, our MP, has announced he won’t be seeking re-election in next May’s general election. Instead, he is going to take up a post in ‘international public service’.
This follows this week’s cabinet reshuffle which saw his job of Leader of the House of Commons going to William Hague, the former Foreign Secretary – and although Andrew was widely tipped to become Britain’s next EU commissioner, that post has gone to Lord Hill.
In a letter to David Cameron, the Prime Minister, published yesterday evening, Andrew said: “Earlier this year, I told you I did not intend to stand again at the next election. You supported my ambition to continue my life of public service in challenging and important roles.
“I am grateful to you now for expressing your support for me to take such a role in international public service in the months ahead. It has been great privilege to serve under you and I will continue to give you my unswerving support.”
Mr Cameron responded by saying he “completely understood” Andrew’s decision and paid tribute to the MP’s “incredible service”, adding: “You have much more to give in terms of public service and I look forward to being able to support you in doing so in the months and years ahead.”
Andrew was first elected to represent South Cambridgeshire in 1997 and spent six years as Shadow Health Secretary before joining the Government as Health Secretary from 2010 to 2012 and then as Leader of the House of Commons until yesterday.
“Andrew has served the constituency well,” said Councillor Ray Manning, the Conservative leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council.
“He has always tried to help South Cambridgeshire when he can and I think he did as good a job as he could with the health service. Everybody says the health service needs reforming but it seems that, as soon as you start to do it, everybody says you should do it differently. I think it’s a bit of a poisoned chalice.”
"It is such a shame Andrew is stepping down after 17 years of very loyal and valuable service to his constituency and our Association," said Bill Potter, our Association's chairman.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for everything he has done for us as an Association, both his and Sally's ever ready willingness to attend our events and his wholehearted support of our Councillors in all they have done to make South Cambridgeshire such a nice place to live and work.
"With the general election only nine months away, understandably our immediate requirement is for the Association to select a new candidate as our MP – the Association's Executive will deal with this process. Members will be kept informed as we progress."
Our contact details if you wish to let us have your view:
South Cambridgeshire Conservative Association
153 St Neots Road
Hardwick
CAMBRIDGE
CB23 7QJ
Phone 01954 211 444
Fax 01954 212 455
E-mail scca@sccf.org.uk