Cohen and now Wyatt to stand down at next election

From @LabourList

Two more Labour MPs – Harry Cohen last night and now Derek Wyatt – have announced their intention to stand down from Parliament at the next general election.

Wyatt, the MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey – who has long been interested in new media – made the announcement by Twitter this afternoon, saying:

“Just to let you know I am standing down at the next General Election as the MP for Sittingbourne & Sheppey.”

A new post on his website follows up that Mr Wyatt:

“…wrote to local party members last Friday, to close friends and colleagues across the politcal divide and to his weekly newsletter recipients. He has already received a large number of emails from constituents thanking him for his service to the community.”

Yesterday, Harry Cohen announced he too would be stepping down as a result of alegations made against him – he says by the BNP – that have caused “intolerable stress” and worsened his wife’s heart condition.

Cohen told his Leyton and Wanstead CLP:

“it has been the greatest honour of my life to represent Leyton and Wanstead, living all those years in the constituency.”He said he was “proud to remember some remarkable achievements”