Great Yarmouth MP Sir Brandon Lewis to stand down at next election

A former chairman of the Conservative Party says he will not be standing as a candidate at the next general election.

In a letter, Sir Brandon Lewis said he had notified the chairman of the Great Yarmouth Conservative Association of his intentions.

First elected as MP for Great Yarmouth in 2010, he said the decision was not made "easily".

He said he was proud of "the small part I have been able to play in public life".

Sir Brandon became the chairman of the Conservative Party in 2018 and has held eight ministerial roles, including Lord Chancellor, the justice secretary and the secretary of state for Northern Ireland.

In his resignation letter, Sir Brandon recounted highlights from within Great Yarmouth including the rejuvenation of the town centre, a capital injection to improve sea and flood defences and the recent opening of Herring Bridge saying it had been a "culmination of an outstanding team effort". On Thursday it emerged the £121m bridge has been closed until further notice while faults are investigated.

Witham MP Priti Patel said on social media that Sir Brandon had served his constituents and the British people "with distinction in Parliament and in Government".

"We entered Parliament together in 2010 and he has been an outstanding colleague and a good friend," she said.

Sir Brandon said he would continue to serve his constituency until Parliament is dissolved.

"A new chapter awaits but as this one closes," he said. "I thank my family for the unwavering support.

"My success and challenges have been theirs and I cannot thank them enough for being by my side through it all."

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