A 'red wall' Rochdale MP is standing down at the next election — only a few years after being voted in.
Chris Clarkson, MP for Heywood and Middleton, said in a statement that he came to his decision following boundary changes to the area. Mr Clarkson’s seat will be divided up into two new seats.
They will be known as Heywood seat and Manchester Blackley seat. Conservative Mr Clarkson, who was only narrowly voted in in December 2019, said representing the area ‘has been the honour of my life’.
Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features.
"Being the Member of Parliament for Heywood and Middleton has been the honour of my life and I was humbled when people put their trust in me in December 2019,” he told BBC News in a statement.
"Following the Boundary Review's recommendation that the current Heywood and Middleton seat be replaced by a new Heywood seat and a new Manchester Blackley seat I have decided not to seek selection for either. Until the next general election is called, I will continue to work hard for the people I have the privilege of representing."
The current MP for Blackley and Broughton is Graham Stringer, who has held the seat since 1997. There’s been a four-horse race among Labour councillors to stand as the party’s Parliamentary candidate in Heywood.
