Frank Dobson set to announce his retirement

Frank Dobson, the long-serving MP for Holborn & St Pancras, will next week announce his intention to stand down from Parliament, it is understood. He’ll announce his decision on Tuesday, at a meeting of his CLP. He has represented the seat in the  Commons since 1979.

Dobson, who is retiring at the age of 74  began his career in politics at Camden London Borough Council, where he was elected as a councillor in 1971 before becoming leader of the council for two years later in 1973.

Six years later he entered into the Commons as an MP. After a lengthy career in parliament, in which he served in several shadow ministerial posts, including energy, transport and environment, Dobson became health secretary in the Blair government from 1997-2001.

He failed to become London Mayor when he ran as Labour’s candidate in May 2000. However, speaking in an interview in January of that year, Dobson’s love of the job he has now had for thirty-five years was clear; contemplating the possibility of losing the mayoral contest, he said, “I will be the MP for Holborn and St Pancras, which is also a wonderful job. Most people interested in politics would love to be an MP. I have been a very fortunate person.”

We understand that Dobson had intended to make his retirement known last month – however, upon realising that the CLP meeting clashed with the England versus Costa Rica World Cup match, he decided to postpone the announcement for a date when there would be a bigger turnout.

LabourList will have more on this once the news is confirmed by Dobson himself, and we wish the very best for the future.