Wansbeck MP Denis Murphy to stand down

Posted by The Journal on Nov 5, 09 11:00 AM in News

Wansbeck MP Denis Murphy A Northumberland MP has announced he is to stand down at the next General Election.

Denis Murphy, Labour MP for Wansbeck, announced his plans in a letter to constituents.

Mr Murphy, who has just turned 61, said there was "no one reason" for his decision but it is one he has thought "long and hard about for the last year".

The MP, who was elected for the first time in 1997, admitted the expenses row was a factor.

The Journal's sister paper the Sunday Sun reported in June how Mr Murphy claimed thousands of pounds to redecorate his flat twice in three years. We also reported how he claimed ÃÂ£750 for a new television and how he employs his daughter as a part time office assistant.

The MP said: "It's not the expenses scandal itself, but some of the things that have come out as a result.

"It is the sort of press attack on decent Members of Parliament who have done nothing wrong, who only followed the rules the employer set out.

"Some of my colleagues have done things that have been very silly and that should never have happened, but the majority haven't done that.

"I don't want to say my decision is down to the expenses issue because it is not. It is a combination of very many things, of which the expenses issue is only one."

In his letter to constituents, Mr Murphy wrote: 'This is a decision I have fought long and hard about for the last year.

'There is not one main reason directing my decision, rather a number of issues'.

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