Dave Watts stands down as PLP Chair

A few weeks ago it was announced that PLP Chair Dave Watts would be leaving Parliament in May (the selection process for Watts’ seat in St Helens has already begun). This evening Watts has announced that he’ll be stepping down as PLP Chair as soon as his successor is elected. Speaking this evening, the outgoing PLP Chair said:

“There can be no bigger privilege than serving the people of St Helens, the town where my family and I live, for the last 18 years. Over the last three years I have also had the huge honour of leading my friends and colleagues in the Parliamentary Labour Party. They are committed, decent, hardworking people dedicated to making our country a better place. As I am going to retire from Parliament at the General Election, it is right that the PLP now chooses a new chair, so I will stand down when the PLP has elected my successor.

“The next election is a huge fight for the future of our country. So much is at stake. The future of the NHS – which has served our country and my family so well –  must not be jeopardised by another five years of a Conservative government. So I will campaign tirelessly for a Labour win and for Ed Miliband to be our next Prime Minister. I know everyone in the Labour movement  will do the same to create a fairer, more decent Britain.”​

Following Watts announcement, Ed Miliband praised him as “a conscientious voice of the PLP and the Labour movement at the Shadow Cabinet table and at the NEC”, and said his successor “will have big shoes to fill”.

“Dave has been a great Chair of the PLP and he will be missed by all of us.  He has led the Parliamentary Labour Party with his trademark good humour, diligence and decency.  Dave’s successor will have big shoes to fill.”

“The PLP keeps all Labour frontbenchers on their toes and constantly challenges us to do our best for working people. Dave has always made sure we keep those high standards. He has been a conscientious voice of the PLP and the Labour movement at the Shadow Cabinet table and at the NEC.”

“I understand why Dave has decided to stand down and I wish him, his wife Avril, and their family the very best​.”

Labour MPs will be electing a new PLP Chair soon – we’ll let you know more on that race as it gets underway…