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Former Welsh Secretary Sir John Redwood standing down before election

24 May 2024 2 minute read
John Redwood MP by Richard Townshend (CC BY 3.0)

Sir John Redwood, who served as Welsh Secretary in John Major’s Government, has announced he is standing down ahead of the General Election.

Sir John, who ran for the Conservative Party leadership in 1995, becomes the 71st Tory MP to stand down before the election on 4 July.

During his time as Welsh Secretary, between 1993 and 1995, the Wokingham MP refused to sign Welsh language documents and even avoided having to stay overnight in Wales.

Mimed

His most memorable moment in the role was at a Welsh Conservative Conference following his appointment in 1993, when he mimed (badly) to the national anthem having failed to learn the lyrics.

Sir John, who was first elected in Wokingham in 1987, wrote in a blog post:“I have decided not to put my name forward in the forthcoming election.

“I have other things I wish to do.

“It has been a privilege to represent Wokingham in nine Parliaments.

“I have drawn many of my campaigns from the views I have heard on doorsteps and read in my email box.

“We have achieved good things together for our local community and the wider nation.

Tory leadership

Sir John, 72, challenged prime minister John Major for the Tory leadership in 1995.

On Thursday, the first day of the General Election campaign, transport minister Huw Merriman and work and pensions minister Jo Churchill announced they are not seeking re-election.

It means the Conservatives are close to a post-war record number of MPs standing down before an election, with the current record standing at 72, the number who quit prior to Sir Tony Blair’s 1997 landslide win.
Steve

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to call a summer election surprised many in Westminster, who had been expecting an autumn poll.


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Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
4 months ago

Whip-crack away…

they are all piling on Calamity Rishi’s stage-coach and hightailing it out of town…

Fi yn unig
Fi yn unig
4 months ago

One of a long line of Secretaries of State for keeping Wales down who demonstrated his disdain for our country by mouthing ‘Blah, blah, blah’ to our National Anthem with that disdain clear to see on his face and as someone who still tells us how great Brexit is, it is clear to see how far this disdain for ordinary people extends beyond our country. Good riddance!

Jeff
Jeff
4 months ago

Another hugely wrong about the brexit benefits and complete fool elevated above ability. He got nothing right but still got votes.

Dai Rob
Dai Rob
4 months ago

Evil man.

adopted cardi
adopted cardi
4 months ago
Reply to  Dai Rob

well said

Annibendod
Annibendod
4 months ago

Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. You won’t be missed.

Duncan Stewart
Duncan Stewart
4 months ago

Good riddance to bad rubbish!! One of the nastier pieces of the English tory party. First came across him when he was a (quite young) local government councillor. Thought then (1977) he was an unpleasant piece of work. Seen nothing since to change my view Deliberately offensive to the people of Wales, the language and anything which emphasised the distinctiveness and value of Welsh identity and culture. (Eg the pointless and deliberately offensive naming of the revised county areas in Wales- insisting on titles which were English versions of an original Welsh name. ) Mind you, he didn’t appoint himself.… Read more »

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