Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall to stand down at general election
Runcorn's MP Mike Hall has called time on his parliamentary career after 18 years, for health reasons.
Mr Hall, Labour MP for Weaver Vale, has said he is facing the prospect of further surgery and wants to make sure he stands the best chance of making a full recovery.
He joins Jane Kennedy (Lab, Wavertree), Claire Curtis-Thomas (Lab, Crosby), Ben Chapman (Lab, Wirral South), Stephen Hesford (Lab, Wirral West), Helen Southworth (Lab, Warrington South), and Eddie O'Hara (Lab, Knowsley South) who are all standing down at the general election.
He was first elected in the Warrington South consistuency in 1992, and became MP for Weaver Vale when the seat was created in 1997.
In a statement, Mr Hall said: ""It has been an enormous honour and privilege to serve as a member of Parliament since winning Warrington South for Labour in 1992 and for Weaver Vale since 1997," said Mr Hall.
"I have taken great pride in the work I have done for my constituents and I know this has been greatly appreciated. We have achieved a great deal together.
"I had very much hoped that I would once again carry the flag for Labour and win Weaver Vale at the coming general election, leading from the front with vigour and total commitment.
"However, I now face the prospect of having further surgery in three months' time, not knowing if I am going to be able to play an effective role from now until polling day.
"My wife Lesley and I want to thank the people of Weaver Vale for the wonderful support we have been given."
The Labour candidacy for the seat is likely to be hotly contested as Labour has a notional majority of 4,750 - 12.7%.
This is a seat Labour would expect to hold if we are in hung parliament territory as the polls currently seem to indicate.
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David Bartlett
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A good egg is Mike Hall.
Surely old Bob Wareing is not still maintaining he is going to stand? is he?
he must be nearly as old as Kilfoyle.