MP Derek Wyatt to stand down at next election
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by political editor
Paul Francis
The Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Derek Wyatt is to stand down at
the next election, citing personal reasons.
The MP's shock announcement that he is to quit politics comes
less than a year before the probable date of a general
election.
The announcement has left party activists reeling. One said the
news had come out of the blue and that Mr Wyatt had not given any
indication he was prepararing to stand down. "Yes, it is a shock
but the job has taken its toll on his personal life."
Mr Wyatt - who has the smallest majority of any Kent Labour-held
seat at 79 - said in a statement: "I have had a ball as the MP for
Sittingbourne and Sheppey since 1997 and have done my very best for
them in Parliament helping to raise over £300million for the
constituency.
He added: "I think it is important that backbenchers have
outside interests. I have undertaken a variety of Fellowships with
the Industry and Parliamentary trust including Motorola, the FT
City programme, China, India and the Arts.
"I have helped the British Council through the UKIERI programme
by being their lead person on IT linking UK and Indian
universities. And in my spare time I have floated a company on Aim
and completed by fifth book."
Mr Wyatt was among the eight Labour MP selected on the back of
the Labour landslide in 1997.
The MP was revealed recently to be the Kent MP with the highest
claim for allowances and according to the Daily Telegraph, had put
in supermarket till receipts to back up a £81.39 claim for food
that included 75p on two scotch eggs and £1.79 on five mini pork
pies.
He could not be contacted for further comment.
Wednesday, July 01 2009
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