Anne McGuire MP to step down at the next election

Stirling MP Anne McGuire has announced that she will be stepping down at the next election. Until recently McGuire was Labour’s Shadow Disability Minister (a role she also held in government), but she stepped down last summer to return to the backbencher. It now seems likely that was in anticipation of leaving the commons. McGuire has been Stirling MP since 1997 (beating the then Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Forsyth) and currently has a majority of 8354.

Announcing her intention to leave Parliament, McGuire said:

“I have been pleased to represent the people of Stirling and its communities since the General Election in May 1997 and to continue that representation in the three subsequent elections in 2001, 2005 and 2010.

However, I feel that I have played my part in working for the people of Stirling and that the time is right for another to take on that role. 

The Stirling constituency is like no other. It is larger than the state of Luxembourg. It encompasses a diversity of communities in the City of Stirling itself, and from Tyndrum to Throsk, Dunblane to Milton of Buchanan, including the villages of Bridge of Allan, Cowie, Plean and Fallin, with energetic and committed people living in them.”

Responding to the news, Ed Miliband – who had McGuire working with him as a PPS early in his leadership – praised her as a “champion of social justice”:

“Anne is a dedicated representative of the people of Stirling, a passionate campaigner and, on a personal note, a good friend.  Parliament will be poorer without her.

Anne’s career in the voluntary sector prior to her election to Parliament ensured that she had the necessary qualities to hold the post of Minister for Disabled People, a post which saw her dedicate herself to help improve the lives of some of society’s most disadvantaged.

Immediately following her election in 1997, she worked closely with Donald Dewar to secure devolution for Scotland.

I know that she will continue to a champion of social justice for many years to come.”