Peter Lilley the latest MP to step down

Peter Lilley, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, has announced that he will not seek re-election this time after serving for 34 years.

It follows yesterday's announcement that Sir Alan Haselhurst, the region's longest serving MP, was also calling it a day.

Mr Lilley announced his attention in a letter to his local Conservative Association he wrote:

During his Westminster career he served in the Thatcher Government as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and was later Secretary of State for Social Security under John Major and Shadow Chancellor and DeputyLeader under William Hague.