Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
POLITICS
Julian Brazier: I’ll not stand again
Former Canterbury and Whitstable MP Sir Julian Brazier confirmed this week he will not fight to win back his former seat.
The veteran Tory, who first won the constituency in 1987, lost to Labour’s Rosie Duffield in arguably the biggest shock of June’s general election.
Whether he would stand again was the source of much speculation, with Canterbury Conservatives yet to pick a candidate for the next election campaign.
But on Wednesday afternoon Sir Julian ended all doubt by revealing he feels the time is right to step aside.
“It was a huge privilege to represent Canterbury and Whitstable for 30 years,” he said.
“Serving in parliament enabled me to represent the constituency and fight for local issues, like the Kent and Canterbury Hospital.
“It also enabled me to work on a number of national issues including in areas like defence, the economy, social justice and, more recently, the importance of Brexit.
“I expect this parliament to last a full five years as the new laws require, and feel that by 2022 it would be right that the baton should have passed on.”
Sir Julian lost to Ms Duffield by just 187 votes after enjoying a succession of large majorities at the ballot box in his three decades as an MP.
He says he does not wish to stand in the way of his successor as the Conservatives look to combat the growth of Labour support in the city.
“It is critical that we return a Conservative government to protect the economic recovery we are achieving, to safeguard our reforms in areas like education and welfare, and to prevent a farleft government led by Jeremy Corbyn taking over,” he said.
“In the meantime, I do not wish to stand in the way of a successor working here as Conservative parliamentary candidate, with our excellent local Conservative Association.
“I am very grateful for all that the members of the association did to support me. I shall continue to be involved in politics, in a number of areas.”
Paying tribute to Mr Brazier’s long career, Canterbury City Council leader Simon Cook says he will be missed.
He added: “Julian has obviously made his decision and that is up to him and his family.
“The key now is to pay tribute to his 30 years’ service – most people would agree he has worked very hard for Canterbury and was an excellent constituency politician.
“I very much wish him well in what he decides to do next; he has a lot more to offer in Canterbury and in public life.”