Sutcliffe to stand down

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe will stand down after the next election.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th May 2014, 17:58 BST
TIME FOR CHANGE: Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe said he would not stand at the next general election.TIME FOR CHANGE: Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe said he would not stand at the next general election.
TIME FOR CHANGE: Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe said he would not stand at the next general election.

Mr Sutcliffe, whose constituency covers Wyke, Low Moor and Oakenshaw, sent a letter to members of the South Bradford Labour Party which said he would not contest the next election.

He said: “In June I will have been MP here for 20 years, and I decided I did not want to stand again at 62.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The next election will be a close-run thing, and as we are looking for be looking for new candidates in Bradford East and West, I decided the time was right to step aside.

“It has been an honour to serve for so long and I will continue to work for the constituents until next year’s general election.

“I will still be active in politics and will hopefull have new challenges in the future.”

Wyke councillor David Warburton said: “Gerry has been a great servant to south Bradford. This year, he will have been the MP for 20 years.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He has been a great MP and a good friend, and I wish him well in the future.”

The news comes just months after Batley and Spen MP Mike Wood said he would not stand at the next election.

Mr Sutcliffe has been a member of Parliament for the constituency since 1994 and has served a minister in the Trade and Industry, Home Office and Culture, Media and Sport departments. He has been a shadow immigration minister since 2011.