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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Senior Tory Maples to quit as MP | Senior Tory Maples to quit as MP |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Senior Conservative MP John Maples has announced he is to step down as an MP at the coming general election. | Senior Conservative MP John Maples has announced he is to step down as an MP at the coming general election. |
| Mr Maples, who is a deputy chairman of his party, said it was "the right time" for him to quit. | Mr Maples, who is a deputy chairman of his party, said it was "the right time" for him to quit. |
| He has been MP for Stratford-Upon-Avon since 1997 and represented Lewisham West between 1983 and 1992. | He has been MP for Stratford-Upon-Avon since 1997 and represented Lewisham West between 1983 and 1992. |
| Mr Maples is the 124th MP to have publicly declared their intention to quit at the general election which is expected to be held on 6 May. | |
| In a letter to Philip Seccombe, chairman of the Stratford-upon-Avon Conservative Party Constituency Association, Mr Maples said he would have been an MP for most of the past 27 years. | In a letter to Philip Seccombe, chairman of the Stratford-upon-Avon Conservative Party Constituency Association, Mr Maples said he would have been an MP for most of the past 27 years. |
| 'Right time' | 'Right time' |
| "After a great deal of thought I have decided to retire from the House of Commons at the next election," he said. | "After a great deal of thought I have decided to retire from the House of Commons at the next election," he said. |
| "This has not been an easy decision, but having gone over it with (his wife) Jane and the family I have come to the conclusion that this is the right time." | "This has not been an easy decision, but having gone over it with (his wife) Jane and the family I have come to the conclusion that this is the right time." |
| Mr Maples said: "I expect great things of a Cameron administration and I will continue to give him and the party my complete support." | Mr Maples said: "I expect great things of a Cameron administration and I will continue to give him and the party my complete support." |
| Mr Maples, 66, did not mention expenses but faced criticism in June after claims he had earmarked a Pall Mall club as his main home for a short time. | Mr Maples, 66, did not mention expenses but faced criticism in June after claims he had earmarked a Pall Mall club as his main home for a short time. |
| He explained that the Fees Office had sanctioned the move for the period between selling his main home in London in September 2004 and moving into a new property in April 2005. | He explained that the Fees Office had sanctioned the move for the period between selling his main home in London in September 2004 and moving into a new property in April 2005. |