Sir John Redwood has thanked the people of Wokingham following his decision to step down ahead of the forthcoming general election.
Writing on his blog yesterday (Wednesday), he said: “I wish to thank all the people of Wokingham for having me as their MP through nine elections.
“We worked together well, as I sought to represent their views, get redress when the government wronged them, pressed for things we needed as a community, and set out a vision of how Wokingham and our country could grasp greater prosperity, freedom and success.
“For much of my time, Wokingham ranked highly in surveys of best places to live. Unemployment was low most of the time, with many larger and smaller businesses coming to invest or growing from their home base.
”There has been an abundance of talent and energy to set up and grow enterprises, to volunteer to run events, to help charities and improve our local environment.
“I have visited many homes with well tended gardens, and watched with delight as bushes and trees have flourished in what were new developments, covering over the bare newness.
“I have argued to keep the green gaps, the farms and the fields that intersperse our towns and villages, and provide some balance to the urban settlements.
“I have often been the person who pushes the case for our public services and spaces to catch up with the housebuilding and private commercial parks.
“In the early days, I needed to help secure pavements, primary schools and shops for new Earley, through the days of working with the Council to freshen and modernise Wokingham town centre.
“It took a long time to get a new railway station, which was much needed, but we got there in the end.
“We did welcome new surgeries, new schools and improved roads under the previous council.
“I have backed home ownership, which is the majority experience and the aspiration of many in Wokingham.
“I have pushed a better deal for small businesses and the self employed, as Wokingham is enterprising.
“I have enjoyed the cultural life of our Borough, enriched by the choirs, concerts, local artists and craftsmen and women.
“I have helped the Council get more money for potholes, social care and a number of good causes.
“Every day as an MP, I asked myself what can I do to make life better for the people I represent?
“Every day, 365 days a year, I wrote a blog to keep people up-to-date with what I was saying and doing, and to seek views on what the problems are and how they should be tackled.
“It has made for a fascinating and lively conversation.
“Thank you all. Thank you so much to those of you who have contributed so much to our community.
He added that he wants to remain living in the Borough, and confirmed he will still be running a modified website – encouraging a wider debate about how best we can proceed together as a nation.
“I am full of optimism for Wokingham, and for our country, as long as local and national government reflects the common sense of the people.
“Government has power and money to do good, but can abuse its privileges or make bad mistakes which set us back.
“A free Parliament needs to be a noisy Parliament, capable of correcting errors and holding accountable those who let us down.”
After announcing his decision to stand down last Friday, he immediately hit back at claims that he won’t stand again because he was worried the Conservatives would lose.
He said: “It was a recent decision to stand down, and I’m sure I’ll say more about it after the election.”
Additional reporting by Nick Clark, local democracy reporter.
