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Gorman to stand down at the next election

Paul Waugh
Monday 29 November 1999 00:02 GMT
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TERESA GORMAN, the Eurosceptic scourge of John Major and champion of HRT and all things Essex, will stand down as an MP at the next general election.

Mrs Gorman, the MP for Billericay, who had the Tory whip withdrawn by Mr Major for her attacks on his policy on Europe, said she wanted to seek new challenges outside Parliament. The 67-year-old backbencher also said that she would be able to spend more time with her husband, who is seriously ill.

"There are so many more things to life than being a back-bench MP," she said. "I have absolutely loved it but after a certain length of time it's a good idea to reappraise your life and say: `What shall I do now?"'

The MP, who was elected for the Essex seat in 1987, opposed Mr Major's stance on the Maastricht Treaty and gained a reputation as an outspoken critic of the European Union. She said that standing down would allow her to be more "candid" about her views in the run-up to the next election.

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