Westminster Diary - 2nd November 2006

Thursday, 2nd November 2006

After the next election, the Rugby & Kenilworth parliamentary constituency will cease to exist. It will be divided between a new seat of Rugby and a new seat called Kenilworth and Southam. The Boundary Commission are making these changes primarily to redistribute an increased Warwickshire population across 6 constituencies instead of 5. The changes present me with a decision to make and I have made it. I will contest the Kenilworth and Southam seat at the next election. I regret having to make a choice at all – in my view the Boundary Commission have done democracy a disservice by creating what are predominantly urban or predominantly rural constituencies in our country. I feel sure that I am a better legislator for having access to knowledge and experience from the people I represent on everything from agriculture to heavy industry in a very diverse area.

However, I am not given the choice of asking to represent again all those I represent now and I have been conscious that whatever choice I made, some people would be disappointed. Some may be disappointed that they will not have the prospect of re-electing me, others may be disappointed that I will be seeking their votes again.

I feel it is right to make my position clear early and in a straight forward manner and I want to make one thing very clear. I will remain the Member of Parliament for Rugby and Kenilworth until the day of the next General Election and will remain committed to working for all of my constituents until then. My job is to speak up for the 83,000 people I represent now and to deal with their concerns to the best of my ability. For as long as my term of office lasts, that is what I will do.

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Updated on Thursday, 2nd November 2006