David Howarth to step down

The whole team in King's Hedges were saddened at the announcement that David Howarth, our MP, has decided not to stand at the next election and will instead return to his self-confessed "other life" in academia.

The announcement can be found on the local party web site, David Howarths Website, and has been reported by the Cambridge News (amongst other places).

David has done a lot of excellent work for Cambridge, first as a ward Councillor, then leader of the City Council, a key member of our Federal Policy Committee and since 2005 as our MP. He led the fight to allow councils to push for higher environmental standards in buildings, fought to protect the right of people to protest legally, and also fought a battle against the innocent-sounding "Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill" the effect of which would have given the Prime Minister the power to change law by decree.

Just last week he achieved a fairer deal for Cambridge in the funding of Concessionary fairs by Central Government (although still some way short of the true cost!).

Nick Clegg said it best; "Academia's gain is very much politics' loss."