Illness forces MP to quit (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Illness forces MP to quit

11:30am Friday 3rd July 2009

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A HIGH profile MP who has represented a rural Cumbrian constituency for almost three decades has announced he is standing down on health grounds.

PENRITH and the Border MP David Maclean said it had been a “great privilege” to represent Eden - England’s largest constituency - over the past 26 years.

Mr Maclean, who was diagnosed with mulitple sclerosis - a progressive disorder of the nervous system - 13 years ago plans to stand down at the next general election.

He said that recent bouts of illness - he voted to elect a new Commons Speaker from an ambulance in the Commons car park - along with medical advice had convinced him it was time to retire.

“I always said when I was diagnosed with MS that when it began to seriously affect the way I carried out my work then I would step down. That time has arrived,” said the 56-year-old.

Medical experts said there had been a “profound deterioration” in Mr Maclean’s walking and balance during the past six months and that continuing his heavy workload as an MP would “severely affect” his health.

“It has been a great privilege to represent Penrith and the Border for 26 years. My health problem has not made it easy for 13 of those years but I have tried to serve the constituency well,” said Mr Maclean.

“I know that in 26 years I have got some things wrong, which I regret and am sorry for. But I hope that if you work really hard, by the end of a career you will have got a lot more things right than wrong.”

Isa Henderson, chairman of Penrith and the Border Conservative Asociation, said Mr Maclean had been an “outstanding” MP for his constituency and had looked after his patch of Cumbria “most admirably”.

She noted some of his most memorable work, including his tireless efforts during the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001, in which he demanded urgent government action and essential help for our farmers.

He also helped stop the closures of the Cottage Hospitals in Penrith, Wigton, Brampton and Alston and helped stop the Whinash wind farm going ahead. He worked hard to get the Temple Sowerby bypass and others on the A66 and campaigned to stop Post Office closures.

“This shows the versatility of David and the huge range of issues he has been successful in fighting for, for his constituents,” said Mrs Henderson.

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