Gummer will quit politics to take on eco-role

News in pictures
News in pictures
On Facebook
From the blogs

Roy Hodgson for England: A club of one

To argue against Harry Redknapp for England is akin to arguing in favour of bankers bonuses. While s...

Time for a reality check on the Sri Lankan civil war

Sri Lanka, much like Britain, has side-lined accountability long enough.

Children Of Alcoholics week: One million children may just be the tip of the iceberg

Children Of Alcoholics week starts today. So, what are the aims for Nacoa during this important week...

Review of Being Human: ‘Being Human 1955’

Following on from an episode tinged with tragedy, this week lifted the mood with something lighter.

The former Tory cabinet minister John Gummer is to quit the Commons at the general election to take on a wider international role in combating global warming, he announced today.

The MP for Suffolk Coastal said the failure of the recent UN climate change summit in Copenhagen to secure a legally-binding deal had prompted him to look beyond Parliament.



A former party chair, Mr Gummer served as both agriculture minister and environment secretary and infamously tried to feed his daughter a beef burger to convince the public it was safe from mad cow disease.



Announcing his decision not to contest the election, he said: "Since the very disappointing results of the Copenhagen negotiations, I have been forced to rethink my plans for the future.



"In discussion with colleagues in the rest of Europe and the United States, as well as with international NGOs, I have realised that I cannot commit myself to the work that they believe has to be done and continue to serve my constituents as I would want.



"The things that I am urged to take on will demand a good deal of absence from home, which is simply incompatible either with the inevitably heavy legislative programme of a new parliament or with attendance at the many constituency functions upon which I have always laid great stress.



"During the 35 years that I have had the privilege of being a Member of Parliament, I have always put my constituency work first and I am not prepared to skimp on it now.



"It is therefore with very great sadness that I have decided it is simply not possible to contest the next election and still promise the kind of service that my constituents have rightly grown to expect.



Mr Gummer is one of more than 120 MPs who have declared they will step down at the election - with dozens more expected to quit in what is set to be the largest such exodus in living history, fuelled in part by the expenses scandal.



The former cabinet minister emerged relatively unscathed from the revelations, although he faced criticism for claiming £9,000 a year for gardening at his second home.



Explaining his decision not to fight the election, he said: "As agriculture minister and then as environment secretary, I had the opportunity to play some part internationally in awakening the world to the dangers (of climate change) and, since then, it has been a constant theme in my work as a backbencher.



"I had hoped that I would continue on that course in the next Parliament, under the leadership of David Cameron whose commitment to combating climate change is so refreshingly direct and determined."



He went on: "Climate change is not only a crisis without historic parallel - it is an urgent political threat.



"We will never win this battle if we diminish people's lives or preach at them. The threat must not be used as an excuse for unnecessary state direction and control.



"Instead, it is all of us, as citizens, entrepreneurs, and consumers, who will make change happen. Politicians and campaigners have to enable that change: they must unleash the power of the free market; they must harness the skills and innovation that drive it; and they must create the opportunities for competition to deliver new answers to this entirely new challenge.



"Those of us who have any chance to influence the course of events, even in a small way, have simply to make that our first priority, however difficult the choice."



He welcomed the recognition of local activists that "the international battle against climate change makes such serious personal demands that I cannot properly avoid them".

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus

Day In a Page

Apple admits it has a human rights problem

Apple admits it has a human rights problem

After years of complaints and workers' suicides in China the technology giant faces up to the human cost of its gadgets
Peter Moore: 'I feel guilty I'm the only one alive'

Peter Moore interview

'I feel guilty I'm the only one alive'
Sellafield faces nuclear option as overspending threatens plant's future

Sellafield faces nuclear option

Overspending threatens plant's future
Israel blames Iran for embassy bomb attacks

Israel blames Iran for embassy bomb attacks

Tehran rejects Netanyahu's 'lies' after diplomats in India and Georgia targeted
Former manager enjoying Apoel crack at the big time

Tommy Cassidy interview

Former manager enjoying Apoel crack at the big time
James Lawton: Patience may not be a virtue this time, Roman – Andre Villas-Boas looks all at sea

James Lawton: AVB looks all at sea

Abramovich's visits to training reinforce the idea of a coach feeling pressure from above and below
The 10 Best sledges

The 10 Best sledges

Not all of them require snow...
Procrastination: Not now – I'm busy

Procrastination: Not now – I'm busy

Confronting the real reasons for puttting things off can help us beat it
Fun in the sunset years

Fun in the sunset years

A new movie follows retirees moving to India for low-cost care and a culture of respect for the elderly. For many Britons, it's already a reality
Picture preview: Lucian Freud drawings

Lucian Freud drawings

Picture preview
Silent revolution at the Baftas as the French take top awards

Silent revolution at the Baftas

The Artist wins in seven categories, with Meryl Streep the other big success story
Whitney Houston: The diva who had – and lost – it all

The diva who had – and lost – it all

Nick Hasted charts the highs and lows of Whitney Houston's life
How Picasso won over (some of) the British

How Picasso won over (some of) the British

Winston Churchill and Evelyn Waugh hated his work, but Picasso provided inspiration for a whole generation of UK artists
Topshop: A Decade Of Design

Topshop: A Decade Of Design

When London Fashion Week starts on Friday, Topshop will celebrate 10 years backing its brightest young stars
John Prescott: 'My wife thought I'd just retire, but I'm not a slippers man'

'My wife thought I'd just retire, but I'm not a slippers man'

At 73, John Prescott isn't mellowing. In fact he's taking a shot at becoming a police commissioner