The past thirty years has quickly flown by since I was first elected to public office in our City, over nineteen years as a City Councillor and now coming up for thirteen years as a Member of Parliament.

In September I reached the normal age of retirement and by the expected time of the next election, I will be close to being sixty six years of age which will mean that at the following general election if the next parliament lasts five years I will be over seventy.

I have given much thought to my position and in particular as to whether, in the future, I feel that I will be able to perform my role on behalf of the voters here in Derby to the best of my ability.

It has been both a pleasure and a privilege to serve my City and its electorate for so long, but I fear that by the time I get closer to seventy both my drive and energy may have started to ebb and I believe that to do this job and do it well one has to be and has to remain ahead of the curve.

It is therefore with a certain sadness that I now announce to you my intention not to contest the next general election on behalf of the party.

I wish to thank the members of my party who over the years have been fulsome in their support of myself, and I wish them well in the process that will now have to take place to select a new candidate, who I am confident will hold the Derby North Parliamentary seat.

Bob Laxton MP

17 October 2009