Eurosceptic Tory MP Chris Kelly quits

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/01/eurosceptic-tory-conservative-mp-chris-kelly-quits

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Another Eurosceptic Conservative MP has announced his intention to stand down from parliament, adding that he wished Ukip defector Douglas Carswell "all the best".

Chris Kelly, 36, who has served in parliament for four years, will not contest the marginal seat of Dudley South next year. It makes him the ninth MP that David Cameron has lost from the new intake of 128 Tories who won seats at the last election.

Kelly said he would not be joining Nigel Farage's party but he wished Carswell well in his battle to win back the seat of Clacton-on-Sea, where the former Conservative MP resigned to stand for Ukip.

"I won't be joining Ukip, though I wish Douglas Carswell all the best. He has been a superb MP and it's honourable to stand for re-election," Kelly told the Express and Star newspaper.

Kelly was one of two Conservative MPs who revealed on Monday that they would not fight the next election. The veteran Conservative Sir Tony Baldry also announced he would stand down from his safe seat of Banbury, in Oxfordshire.

"After careful thought over summer recess and discussions with my family, I have decided to stand down at the next general election," Baldry tweeted.

Twenty-seven Conservative, 29 Labour and nine Liberal Democrat MPs have decided not to stand next year. This total figure is much lower than before the last election when 149 parliamentarians announced their retirement, many of them during the fallout over the 2009 expenses scandal.

Most of those leaving the parties this time are longstanding older MPs who are retiring, including William Hague, Andrew Lansley, David Blunkett and Jack Straw.

However, senior Tories have been left worried by the number of only recently elected MPs who are standing down. The concerns have intensified after Carswell's decision to leave the Conservatives and join Ukip.

Conservative MP Conor Burns said he was disappointed that Kelly would not stand again, saying the party was "losing the wrong people".

The Conservative MPs from the 2010 intake who have stood down, or will stand down, are:

Cannock Chase – Aiden Burley

Cardiff North – Jonathan Evans

Corby – Louise Mensch

Dudley South – Chris Kelly

Erewash – Jessica Lee

Hove – Mike Weatherley

North Warwickshire – Dan Byles

South Thanet – Laura Sandys

South Ribble – Lorraine Fullbrook