Southend MP James Duddridge announces ‘regret’ decision to …
The MP for Rochford and Southend East has announced their decision not to stand at the next General Election “with regret”. Sir James Duddridge has been an Essex MP for almost 20 years.
The Conservative, 52, says he is looking forward to “new chapter” having served as an MP since 2005. Sir James was most recently a Minister of State in the Department for International Trade between September and October 2022.
He was given the appointment by Liz Truss before being dismissed a month later by Rishi Sunak. In a letter to the Prime Minister, he said it is “time for a new chapter.”
The letter said: “It has been an honour to serve the people of Rochford and Southend East as their Member of Parliament since 2005. It is therefore with regret that I write to let you know that I will not be standing at the next General Election.
“I joined the party in the late 80’s under the great Margaret Thatcher. I worked for the party when CCHQ was CCO. I have fought six General Elections and two local government elections, increasing the Conservative vote every time.
“I have served under three Prime Ministers as a Whip for four years, Minister for Africa for four years, Brexit Minister seeing through the Withdrawal Act through the Commons, Minister of State for Trade and as Boris Johnson’s PPS. I think I have done my time. Forgive me for moving on to do other things.
“I am grateful to the many friends in Southend, Rochford, Westminster and Africa who have helped me along this journey but now is the time for a new chapter. I am looking forward to new challenges and that old cliché, to spending more time in Southend with my family.”
Sir James increased the total votes to the Conservatives for the Rochford and Southend East constituency in the past five General Elections and increased the percentage share in each election too, aside from the 2015 election (46.4%) which was a decrease on 2010 (46.9%). In 2019 he was elected with more than 58 per cent of the vote.
Sir James’ standing down means another Essex seat will be contested in the next General Election. John Baron, the MP for Basildon and Billericay, and Will Quince, the MP for Colchester, have both already declared intentions to stand down.