Patrick Cormack to stand down
Cormack: A parliamentarian for just under 40 years
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Tuesday, 01, Dec 2009 12:13
By Ian Dunt
One of parliament's most famous faces has announced he will join the exodus of MPs at the general election.
Sir Patrick Cormack, Tory MP for South Staffs and a parliamentarian for nearly 40 years, announced he would stand down at the next election following medical advice.
"I regard membership of the House of Commons as the highest honour to which any British subject can aspire and I shall always be grateful to have had the opportunity, and the great privilege, of serving my country and my constituency at Westminster," he wrote to his constituency association.
"The unhappy events of recent months in parliament have made those hours much more of a burden than they used to be and it is also becoming increasingly clear that the new House of Commons will be very different from the old.
"I am most anxious to continue to work for some of the causes I have campaigned for over the years but I have recently had my third severe attack of bronchitis in two years and my doctor tells me I really ought to cut down on my normal 'term time' working week of 70 to 80 hours."
At 70 years old, observers are not questioning the accuracy of the reason he gave for his departure. His doctor is understood to have told him the long hours are too much.
A frequent rebel during Margaret Thatcher's reign, he acted as deputy leader of the Commons when William Hague was leader.
He later ran for Speaker but was defeated by Michael Martin. He is chairman of the Northern Ireland select committee.