Hartlebury MP to stand down at general election

9:21am Wednesday 5th September 2012 in News

HARTLEBURY’S MP is to stand down at the next general election.

Conservative Peter Luff, who represents Mid Worcestershire, announced his decision today.

By the estimated time of the next general election he will have been in Parliament for 23 years, first being elected as Worcester’s MP, succeeding the late Peter Walker.

Thanking his constituents, he cited the introduction of a 50mph speed limit along a stretch of the the A449 Kidderminster to Worcester road as among his proudest memories.

Mr Luff said: “It has also been a privilege to work alongside two of the very best councils in the country - Wychavon District Council and Worcestershire County Council . In the two and half years that remain to me as a Member of Parliament, we have more to achieve together and more battles to win.

“My work as defence equipment minister since the least election has been immensely rewarding and encouraging. To work with the finest our country has to offer, the men and women of our armed forces, has been inspirational. The civil servants of the MoD, so often and wrongly derided, that make their work possible have also been superb. To all of them, I express my deep appreciation.”

He added: “It is fashionable to deride politicians and the political process but I believe there is no nobler cause than the representation of the people in democratically elected institutions - at parish or town, district, county, national and European level.”

He went on: “The Coalition Government is grappling with huge challenges, the scale of which is only just becoming clear. David Cameron and his ministers will enjoy my robust support as they address them with the determination and energy I know they will demonstrate.”

Comments(18)

Poppasmurf says...
9:39am Wed 5 Sep 12

If this MP can call the imposition of the 50mph speed limit on the A449 Kidderminster-Worces
ter dual carriageway as one of his proudest memories, then it must indeed be a very poor list he has to his credit. Every time I use that dual carriageway, I curse the idiots who formulated such a hotchpotch of chicanes and pinchpoints which cause frustration amongst drivers and does nothing for road safety. We have finished up with a situation whereby the narrow country lanes off the dual carriageway have higher speed limits than the main road.

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honestscott says...
9:46am Wed 5 Sep 12

21 years in parliament and his proudest moment is reducing the speed on a dual carriageway
Hand your head in shame mr luff your a joke!

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honestscott says...
9:47am Wed 5 Sep 12

#hang

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Mary79 says...
11:01am Wed 5 Sep 12

if he thinks that worcestershire county council is one of the very best in the country he is deluded, as he is in his belief that this government deserves his robust support. nice chap but ineffective and his comments about the road prove it.

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Driving Instructor says...
11:52am Wed 5 Sep 12

So he is the dipstick that courses all the **** ups in rush hour, its the same situation on the A456 what a stupid idea,most drivers think its 40 now all the into and out of Birmingham,and that stupid so Bloody stupid Husum way junction with Birmingham road, thank Mrs Oborski for that one, still know one knows how it works, so stick to the old format,that dotted white line dont meen stop ,it meens wait a tiny while if at all, and NO, Husum Way dose'nt have right of way,, A456 traffic dose,
A456 is still 70mph ok

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HowardM says...
12:39pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Elsewhere Mr Luff is quoted as saying that since he is now over 60 and will be 62 at the next election, he feels he would like to retire! So would the many millions of people who wanted to retire at 65 but will now have to go on until at least 68 through the policies of this government. Fortunately, of course, as an MP, Mr Luff can retire on a very good, inflation linked, public sector pension - just like the one his government is trying to take away from a host of hard working public sector employees who are paid a lot less than MP's. All in it together?

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FranOb says...
12:53pm Wed 5 Sep 12

To Driving Instructor, don't blame ME for the particular changes atHusumWay as I have complained from Day One that they make it worse, but I DO agree with comments about A449!
Frankly if THAT is the pinnacle of Luff's achievements as an MP, why did he bother?

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kidderlord says...
3:04pm Wed 5 Sep 12

I think Peter's remarks havce been taken out of context. He is MP for mid Worcestershire and previously Worcester City and has a lot more achievements to his credit. the Shuttle refer to him as Mp for Hartelbury, and the speed restriction relates to that area. Peter has been an excellent MP and it is a shame he has not been in Government longer. I hope he and his wife enjoy "retirement"

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Gobby Robby says...
5:45pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Good news! Peter Luff's retiring! Yay!

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John Herbert Smith says...
1:04pm Thu 6 Sep 12

Well, I never knew Peter Luff was responsible for the ruining of the A449.
It's not just the speed limit (which is too low for such a road), but the fact that it is dangerous with a plethora of signs, barley enough space to overtake and stupid red paint.

Of course, the most dangerous and bendy section of the road (which I would understand slowing to 60) was left at 70!

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Red Flag Dan says...
9:12pm Thu 6 Sep 12

I wonder if Robin Walker will follow Peter Luff's footsteps and do a 'chicken run' from Worcester to Mid-Worcestershire?

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Graphical says...
9:45am Fri 7 Sep 12

1 down, 648 to go!

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kidderlord says...
7:45pm Fri 7 Sep 12

as long as garnier doesnt!

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Graphical says...
8:13pm Fri 7 Sep 12

I would hope when it comes for re-election it won't make much difference if Garnier stands or not!

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stour67 says...
8:21pm Fri 7 Sep 12

A friend counted the road signs on that section and it came to over 120 !!!!

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John Herbert Smith says...
6:24pm Sat 8 Sep 12

It wouldn't surprise me if Garnier or Walker didn't move to Luff's seat.

Both Wyre Forest and Worcester are fairly likely to be lost by the Tories (although by no means certain) at the next election.

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Howard Jones says...
3:04pm Mon 10 Sep 12

The 50mph section of the A449 is 2.5miles long. 2.5 miles at 70mph takes 3 minutes. 2.5miles at 50mph takes 52 seconds longer! What a pathetic bunch of correspondents you must be to argue the merits of an extra 52 seconds of travelling time and then to try to relate it to condemn a man’s political career.

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Poppasmurf says...
4:03pm Mon 10 Sep 12

If Howard Jones would care to read what has been said above, it is the stupidity of the so-called traffic calming measures that is mainly being complained about. We have idiots running the Highways Department in Worcestershire who think the answer to killing yourself by driving into a brick wall whilst under the influence of drink and drugs at 4am is to impose lower speed limits. It is the self same idiots who planned the A449 and A456 measures. If Luff wishes to associate himself with that lot, he must indeed be desperate. And it's ignorant people like Mr Jones who encourage them.

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