MP Bailey to stand down after 20 years in Commons

WEST Bromwich West MP Adrian Bailey has announced that he is standing down after nearly 20 years in Parliament.

The news came after he voted against the third reading of a bill setting the date for a General Election on December 12.

In an email to Labour party members, the former Sandwell councillor said he relished the prospect of defeating the Government. But he added that he was standing by a decision made in 2017 not to stand for re-election.

He said if he was chosen to continue as an MP for his West Bromwich West constituency, he would be committing himself to serving until he was 80 years old. “Whilst I am very fit both mentally and physically, a younger person more attuned and comfortable with political campaigning in a social media age would be better placed to promote Labour’s policies and values in the next Parliament,” he explained.

“Consequently, I have decided that I no longer wish to be considered for re-election as the candidate for West Bromwich West in the next General Election.”

He ended by saying: “I would like to thank the constituents of West Bromwich West for electing me to Parliament on six occasions, thereby giving me the opportunity to do a job I love serving a constituency I love.”

At the 2017 election he won his seat with a 4,460 majority over his nearest rival, both increasing his share and actual vote to 18,789.

During his career he was a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and also served in the same role with Bob Ainsworth, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence.

Mr Bailey was one of only 20 MPs who voted against the Government bill setting the date for a general election on December 12.

West Midlands Regional Labour Party has said no date has yet been set to choose a Labour candidate for his seat.