Lib Dem MP Taylor to step down

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6271741.stm

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One of the best known Liberal Democrat MPs, Matthew Taylor, has announced he is to stand down at the next election.

The 44-year-old MP, elected for Truro & St Austell in 1987, said he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Mr Taylor was the party's chairman in the Commons from 2003 to 2005 and has also been energy, education, treasury and environment spokesman.

Mr Taylor, who was the youngest MP for 10 years after he was first elected, became a father last November.

In a statement, he said it was "a very tough decision" to make after 20 years as an MP.

But with the arrival of his son Arthur, Mr Taylor said: "I don't want to be a dad who is away from home four nights a week".

Wife and child

As a 24-year-old MP he was willing and able to work a typical 80-hour week, but he no longer wanted to make such a committment, although he did not specify his future plans.

"Over and over again MPs tell me how hard it is on them, their wife, and their children to be away so much, but they put their career first.

"For me, I have had 20 years in Parliament. Now I want to put [my wife] Vicky and Arthur first," Mr Taylor said.

He said he had enjoyed helping thousands of local people as well as having "having a very strong voice in national politics too."

He added he would continue "to work flat out" until the next election, and hoped his successors - due to boundary changes there will be two seats - would also be Liberal Democrats.