Lib Dem Matthew Taylor to quit as MP
Liberal Democrat MP Matthew Taylor has announced he is stepping down at the next election after 20 years representing Truro and St Austell.
The party’s social exclusion spokesman – who was elected to parliament at the tender age of 24 – said he wanted to devote himself to his family following the birth of his first son, Arthur, last November.
Mr Taylor held one of the top jobs in the Liberal Democrats, that of Treasury spokesman, for four years between 1999 and 2003.
But after a two-year stint as chairman of the parliamentary party, he was moved to the low-key social exclusion portfolio when Menzies Campbell took over as party leader.
In a statement, the 44-year-old said deciding to step down as an MP was a “very tough decision”, saying: “Elected at just 24 I had no family and could afford to do so – a typical working week in my case of about 80 hours.
“I never like to do things by half measures, and I think I have been able to achieve a lot for Cornwall as a result. But I have always said to my close friends that it would not have been possible to work as hard with a family – not the way I want to be a father.”
He continued: “Over and over again MPs tell me how hard it is on them, their wife, and their children, to be away so much, but they put their career first. For me, I have had 20 years in parliament, now I want to put [wife] Vicky and Arthur first
“I have relished the chance to help literally thousands and thousands of local people as their MP. I have greatly enjoyed the successes I have had helping get a better deal for Cornwall and my constituency – and having a very strong voice in national politics too.”
Mr Taylor’s constituency will be split in two under changes proposed by the Boundary Commission. Truro will join with Falmouth, and Newquay will leave the constituency of North Cornwall to join St Austell.
This will increase the number of Cornish MPs from five – all of whom are Lib Dems – to six, to take account of changes in population.
