Former minister Paul Scully to stand down as Conservative MP: full statement

Conservative MP and former minister Paul Scully has introduced he’s stepping down on the subsequent normal election. He issued the next assertion on X/Twitter:

I’ve instructed my native affiliation that I gained’t be contesting the following Normal Election. Over the past 9 years it’s been a privilege to characterize in Parliament, the world which I known as residence for 35 years.

I used to be by no means going to retire as a politician. It was by no means a long-held ambition to cling to, however a technique to impact change and add worth, which I hope I’ve been in a position to do in a small manner, though politics is an extended thankless course of.

My wonderful crew and I’ve labored on points raised by constituents together with reuniting moms with their kids in tough circumstances and getting optimistic outcomes for a lot of who got here to me as a final resort. After all, there have been many who I’ve not been in a position to assist.

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I’ve helped campaigners for Cystic Fibrosis victims like [the Cystic Fibrosis Trust] safe life-changing medicine on the NHS; change the narrative from the unfavorable “Save St Helier” to securing healthcare in our borough by way of the £500m authorities funding and spending time with Sutton’s rising Tamil, Indian, Ahmadiyya, Hongkonger, Nepalese, Turkish, and Bangladeshi diaspora in addition to extra established communities just like the Polish neighborhood who’ve known as Sutton residence for many years.

I’ve labored with the LibDem run council constructively each time attainable together with our profitable bids for £11m Future Excessive Streets funding & £14m to enhance rail connection between Sutton & Belmont, in addition to championing the proposed London Most cancers Hub.

However as with a lot of the work I’ve accomplished in Whitehall as [a] minister …, loads is left unfinished and I hope that my Conservative successor will be capable of decide these up.

Fuelled by division, the occasion has misplaced its manner and must get a transparent focus which I hope the price range can begin to present. It wants a imaginative and prescient past disaster administration which might attraction to a wider part of the voters together with youthful individuals.

If we simply give attention to core vote, ultimately that core shrinks to nothing. Speak extra about housing; renting first as a result of residence possession has drifted too removed from so many. Present an actual connection and empathy with different generations.

In any other case we threat pushing ourselves into an ideological cul-de-sac. The usual deviation mannequin is true in politics. Most individuals are within the center. We will work with the bell curve or grow to be the bell-ends. We have to make that call. I worry the voters already is!

It generally felt lonely as Minister for London. When London works, the UK works however for that to occur, it’s a must to give it consideration, love and care. We shouldn’t be disrespectful to Londoners, however deal with the mayoral position critically.

Final week’s no-go-gate frenzy about my poor alternative of phrases in a wider 12 minute interview condemning the very behaviour I used to be accused of exhibits you may’t do neighborhood relations in a couple of minutes and that individuals will take the straightforward choice to report division than to grasp.

Social media feeds this with shrinking consideration spans and affirmation bias. It’ll worsen over the following few years earlier than it will get higher. I’d already began to let individuals know that I used to be stepping down. It didn’t make my thoughts up however confirmed I’d made the best alternative.

The final 9 years have been an unimaginable curler coaster. I’ve achieved a lot with the Put up Workplace, hospitality, tech, playing, my native hospital, my work in Myanmar & past. However I’ve additionally misplaced my marriage and seen two colleagues murdered. So time to go on the baton.

I’ll proceed to characterize Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park proudly and digilently within the months to come back. My phrases above are talking fact to energy, not an indication that I consider we should always have anything however a Conservative authorities.

There are many colleagues within the parliamentary occasion and new MPs to come back who will reply to the problem in optimistic vogue. Try this for the hard-working councillors and activists. However primarily do it for the individuals throughout the nation whose voice we’re. /END

I’ve instructed my native affiliation that I will not be contesting the following Normal Election. Over the past 9 years it has been a privilege to characterize in Parliament, the world which I known as residence for 35 years (1/16 [sorry!])…

— Paul Scully MP (@scullyp) March 4, 2024

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