Andrew Stunell, Hazel Grove MP since 1997, has announced he will not be contesting the next General Election in 2015.
Local Liberal Democrat Party members have selected Lisa Smart as their Parliamentary candidate for 2015.
Commenting, Andrew (pictured left with
Lisa) said –
“My decision wasn’t an easy one, but the
hard fact is that I shall be 72 in 2015, and
77 at the end of the next Parliament in
2020. I know just how hard every Liberal
Democrat MP has to work to get our
message across and to make sure local
people’s cares and concerns are taken
up.
“I’ll be working flat out for the rest of this
Parliament, and then aiming to hand over
the baton to my Liberal Democrat
successor to run the next lap of the race.”
Over the last two months the local Liberal Democrats have conducted a short-listing of candidates, with a ballot of all members concluded at a hustings meeting last Sunday.
Lisa Smart, from Romiley, said –
“I am absolutely thrilled to have been selected to succeed Sir Andrew Stunell as the Liberal Democrat candidate at the next General Election. I look forward to working hard for our area and standing up for the issues that matter most to local people.”