WOKINGHAM MP Sir John Redwood is not contesting the seat in next month’s general election.
First elected to the seat in 1987, and had been reselected in February last year following a selection meeting held in Wokingham Town Hall.
Members of the Wokingham Conservative Association voted to stick with Sir John and it had been expected he would contest his 10th general election.
But Sir John joins the many Conservative MPs who have decided to step down on July 4.
Revealing the news on his blog, rather than contacting the local press first as is convention, he wrote: “I have decided not to put my name forward in the forthcoming election. I have other things I wish to do.”
He said it had been a privilege to represent Wokingham over the years and had used views of constituents to inform his campaigns.
“We have achieved good things together for our local community and the wider nation,” he wrote.
On the recent local elections, he said he was pleased to help Conservatives win seats.
“We stopped the Lib Dems winning a majority despite their forecasts by highlighting the big damage they are doing to our roads, the money they waste, their neglect of public spaces and the way they are worsening our refuse service,” he wrote.
Last night, it was revealed that the Conservatives are still advertising for candidates in a number of constituencies, including Reading Central. They will now need to add Wokingham to that list.
Standing in Wokingham are: Clive Jones (Lib Dem), Monica Hamidi (Labour), Merv Boniface (Green), and Colin Wright (Reform).
