It is yet to be confirmed, but authoritative sources tell me thatIt has now been confirmed that John Horam will stand down as MP for Orpington at the general election.
He is one of those rare political animals who has sat for three different parties in the Commons, as Labour MP for Gateshead West from 1970 to 1981; as SDP MP for that seat between 1981 and 1983; and as Conservative MP for Orpington since 1992.
He served as a junior minister in the governments of both James Callaghan and John Major.
In Orpington, he will bequeath a notional Conservative to his successor of 5,221 over the Liberal Democrats, having seen off the threat they had posed when his margin of victory in 2001 was a mere 269 votes. In fact, the Liberal Democrat candidate at the last four general elections has now made way for a new candidate.
The constituency falls within the London Borough of Bromley in the south east corner of Greater London, in what is spiritually still viewed by many locals as Kent.
Jonathan Isaby
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UNCONFIRMED: John Horam MP to step down at the general electionUNCONFIRMED: John Horam MP to step down at the general election