November 29, 2010 12.01 am This story is over 160 months old

Merron won’t run again for Lincoln MP seat

Retreat: Former Lincoln MP for 13 years Gillian Merron said she won’t stand again for the seat at the next general election.

Gillian Merron announced that she will not stand again as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Lincoln at the next general election.

Merron (51), who was Lincoln’s Labour MP from 1997 to 2010, made the announcement in a letter to all Lincoln Labour Party members this weekend.

“I feel it is time for both Lincoln Labour Party, and me, to look forward,” she wrote.

“Losing the seat meant that sadly, I was unable to continue representing the people for whom I’d worked hard for over 13 years.

“And of course, being your MP was never just a job – it was where my heart, home and community lay too,” she added.

During her 13-year tenure Merron followed the party line in votes on equal gay rights, the hunting ban, smoking ban, the Iraq war, and The Digital Economy Bill.

In the aftermath of the 2009 parliamentary expenses scandal, Sir Thomas Legg recommended that Gillian Merron repay £6,305.17.

In May this year Merron lost her seat to Conservative candidate Karl McCartney, who overtook her by 1,058 votes on a 5.9% swing.

Merron paid tribute to the people of Lincoln saying: “I want to thank you for the support and backing that you gave to me over many years.

“It was the highest honour to have been entrusted with the responsibility to represent you which I always did to the best of my ability.

“I know that we did make Lincoln a better place – I will always be proud to have done so,” Merron added.

It is unknown at this stage who the Lincoln Labour party will nominate to run for the city’s MP seat at the next general elections.

Source: Lincoln Labour | Photo: UKBA