Devizes MP Claire Perry O’Neill (as she is known since her re-marriage) has decided not to be a candidate at the next election.
On Friday (September 6) she announced on Twitter: “I have written today to my Constituency Chairman to say I will not be seeking reselection as our candidate at the next Election. It has been the privilege of my life to serve the people of the Devizes Constituency for 9 yrs and I am proud of what we have achieved together.”
“I have also been clear that I remain in full support of our PM and his brave Brexit strategy as I can see no alternative if we want to honour the Referendum result.”
She added: ” I look forward to working closely with him in my role as President of the UN Climate COP in 2020.” This is the decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s meetings which are officially known as Conferences of the Parties – or more simply referred to as COPs.
Mrs Perry is aged 55. In 2016 she campaigned to remain in the EU. She was first elected to Parliament in May 2010 with a majority of 13,000.
In 2013 she was made an Assistant Whip and the following year became Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Transport.
In June 2017 she was appointed a Minister of State at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy – responsible for energy and clean growth. She attended cabinet meetings.
She is the latest among a number of moderate Conservative MPs to announce they will not stand for Parliament again – or have been expelled from the Tory Parliamentary party.
In a further Tweet she wrote: “And to reassure our wonderful close friends and local colleagues: we wouldn’t dream moving from the heart of the Pewsey Vale.”