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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Armed forces minister James Heappey will not stand at next election | Armed forces minister James Heappey will not stand at next election |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| James Heappey has been the MP for Wells since 2015 | James Heappey has been the MP for Wells since 2015 |
| Armed forces minister James Heappey has announced he will not be standing as a candidate at the next general election. | Armed forces minister James Heappey has announced he will not be standing as a candidate at the next general election. |
| First elected as MP for Wells in 2015, Mr Heappey said the decision to not stand was "painful". | First elected as MP for Wells in 2015, Mr Heappey said the decision to not stand was "painful". |
| In a letter, he said it was time "to step away from politics, prioritise my family, and pursue a different career". | In a letter, he said it was time "to step away from politics, prioritise my family, and pursue a different career". |
| He has become the 62nd Conservative MP to confirm they will not stand in the next general election. | He has become the 62nd Conservative MP to confirm they will not stand in the next general election. |
| The prime minister's official spokesman said Mr Heappey would be "greatly missed in Parliament". | |
| Mr Heappey became the armed forces minister in 2020 and previously served as parliamentary private secretary to the prime minister under Boris Johnson. | Mr Heappey became the armed forces minister in 2020 and previously served as parliamentary private secretary to the prime minister under Boris Johnson. |
| In a letter to his local Conservative association, he thanked his constituents saying it was the "greatest honour" of his life to serve the Wells area for nine years. | In a letter to his local Conservative association, he thanked his constituents saying it was the "greatest honour" of his life to serve the Wells area for nine years. |
| The Wells MP said he would continue to support Rishi Sunak as prime minister and assured his "full commitment" until the end of this parliament. | The Wells MP said he would continue to support Rishi Sunak as prime minister and assured his "full commitment" until the end of this parliament. |
| James Heappey became the armed forces minister in 2020 | |
| The prime minister's official spokesman said Mr Heappey was "a dedicated minister and a committed advocate for our armed forces". | |
| Asked whether Mr Heappey had raised concerns about the level of defence spending ahead of an announcement on Friday, the spokesman said: "He is continuing in his role as minister for the armed forces and any changes to ministerial positions will be confirmed in the usual way. | |
| "But I don't believe there is any suggestion that this is linked to defence spending. You can see what he has said around stepping down in order to prioritise his family and pursue a new career. | |
| "And indeed, the minister has been closely involved in implementing the government's defence agenda, including major investments in new equipment and capabilities for our armed forces." | |
| Boundary changes mean Mr Heappey would have been standing in the newly-named Wells and Mendip Hills constituency. | Boundary changes mean Mr Heappey would have been standing in the newly-named Wells and Mendip Hills constituency. |
| Electoral Calculus currently predicts the Liberal Democrats have a 56% change of winning the new seat, compared to 38% for the Conservatives. | Electoral Calculus currently predicts the Liberal Democrats have a 56% change of winning the new seat, compared to 38% for the Conservatives. |
| Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and, X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. | Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and, X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| James Heappey | James Heappey |
| Wells | Wells |