Wednesday, January 17, 2007

LibDem MP to Stand Down

Cornish LibDem MP Matthew Taylor is to leave Parliament at the next election. He is citing family reasons.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

I held a meeting with him once. So - the Libs are losing their policy man. What sort of policies can we look forward to now!

Anonymous said...

Perhaps he's decided to get married.

Anonymous said...

Not surprising really. I never understood how he could hold down an MP's job while turning out for Portsmouth every weekend. Still after that volleyed goal fom the half way line against Everton, he's made the right decision.

Anonymous said...

Why do I get the feeling there is more to that story?

Anonymous said...

i wonder if it also really involves "unspeakable acts of degraddation."

Anonymous said...

That nice young man Rob Fenwick at LD Voice says "I’d say something nice about his years of service, but the only time I encountered him in person he was a complete arse. Oh, and he sneered at me on the World at One once. So someone else can lead a tribute in the comments."
http://www.libdemvoice.org/matthew-taylor-to-step-down-at-next-election-442.html

Bor Wenfick is the same pratt who led the attacks on the saintly Suz.

Anonymous said...

Coprophagy! Coprophagy! They've all got it, er . . . that doesn't quite work, does it?

Anonymous said...

Those LDVs really are charmers aren't they? Heaven knows what lies behind this story.

Presumably there'll now to a rampage of Yellow Tory Boys (and girls? I doubt it) getting the train from Paddington to stake a claim.

Is this why John Leech MP was asking questions about smuggling and gun running in Matthew Taylor's manor? His Manchester Withington seat is so not safe now it's untrue.

Fantastic group of candidates presenting from Labour and the Tories can hardly do worse than K Bradley with her vote haemorrhaging (sp?) antics last time.

Anonymous said...

Isn't he the bloke who nobbed the tasty married bird from 'Surfers Against Shaggin'?

Anonymous said...

My guess is Lembit Opik to be the next to go (unwillingly)

Anonymous said...

OT: Iain, can you please put the old 18 Doughty Street website back up? I prefered it to the new one. There was much more features on it!

Anonymous said...

I gather James Gray has a similar problem with a constituent's wife

Anonymous said...

I think that he has tired of the whole political thing. I guess he could be happy with backbench obscurity and "take the money", but perhaps, his reasons are completely valid. After all, he has recently become a father, Truro is a long way from London and if he has had the right offer of a job nearer home, then why not ?

As for the comments about him as a person, I had to pick him up from Romsey station in the by-election and he was rather curt in his manners, some might describe him as rude, and I personally was disappointed with his attitude towards me as an activist who was there voluntarily.

To be fair though, it was a grotty day, he's had a long train journey and looked knackered.

Iain Dale said...

Mike, it is a temporary holding page. The new site will launch within the nxt few days. Far more features than the old one. We're not happy at this delay. the website builders have really let us down, but when it does go up I think you will like it!

Anonymous said...

He's probably going to a better job. There can't be many more powerless positions in the land than being a backbench Lib Dem MP.

Anonymous said...

Why doesn't he just move his new family to London if he wants to spend more time with them? All very strange. Definately more to it.

Anonymous said...

Iain:

'We're not happy at this delay. the website builders have really let us down'
It was ever thus with the building trade.

'but when it does go up I think you will like it!'
Yep, that's what I keep telling the girls...

Curly said...

Perhaps he has "Psychological Flaws"

Anonymous said...

But with the old doughty street website you could watch telly - i've not seen a dickie bird from doughty street for over a week...

perhaps you could relocate to the Bigot Bother house when Ofcom closes it down ?

Anonymous said...

Iain - the fact that both the PM and GB are commenting on - *sigh* -Big Brother makes me lose the will to live. At least it's knocked John Reid off the front page - but what else?

Anonymous said...

Well until Taylor is revealed as something else I prefer to think that he as a human being has had enough of Westminster and just wants a proper life and good luck to him.

Anonymous said...

Danvers, what a terribe attitude that you expect a constituency MP to move from his constituency.

Anonymous said...

Being a bit thick here, wasn't Taylor involved with the IPPR at some point, or am I doing my usual and mixing him up with somebody else ?

We never did get to find out what Mr Dale was doing shacked up in Windsor Castle - auditioning for 'Regal Big Brother' perhaps...

Anonymous said...

Any chance the Tories might win the seat back after 30 odd years.

Anonymous said...

Boundary changes make it easier for the Tories to take back. Matthew had decided to do the honourable thing and stand for the harder Truro seat. Now we know why.

Anonymous said...

When Lembit said the other Cheeky Girl was still free, perhaps he thought he would try his luck.

Now all we need to do is to try and get Ming and the Cheeky Mum together to complete the set

Anonymous said...

In reply to Odessa No Chance!
A perusal on www.ukpolling.co.uk under Truro and Falmouth shows that a book has already been written on the subject and it does not look good for the conservatives.

Anonymous said...

Heard an interview on Radio Cornwall at 5:15 tonight and the presenter asked Matthew Taylor is there anything he wants to tell us about his reasons for not seeking re-election at the age of 44.Naturally nothing was forthcoming, but it is known that on the Lizard the gossip is that the Husband of the woman he has got up the spout is not to well pleased and is going verbally beserk about the matter.There is plenty reporting to come yet in the News of the Screws

BJ said...

He's probably finally cottoned on to the fact that he's a complete arse and nobody, to my knowledge, in the Liberal Democrats actually likes him any more....

Anonymous said...

fib dem said...
"Bor Wenfick is the same pratt who led the attacks on the saintly Suz".

Bor Wenfick is the same pratt wonderful words

Anonymous said...

The Man is a cad,He is superior,rude ,ignorant and a public adulterer.
St Austell rejected him in general terms as a candidate too represent them at the next election (ie the town where he lives)----his seat is split in two for those not in the know..
Truro and Falmouth would likely have rejected him too, as word is circulating that the son of the late David,Matthew Penhaligan is being groomed as a replacement.
The seat could have gone Tory but following CCHQ pogroms and persecutions against the local conservative establishment, toryism has gone into freefall and nobody today knows where all the members have gone too.The selected Tory PPC is finding it an uphill struggle after only 3 months and does not have enough activists supporting.

Anonymous said...

Taylor is saying he is leaving at the height of his career at the age 44 with no declared job to go too, and a wife and baby to look after.
It is interesting that a proclaimed MP of great Political experience should announce his intention just after the Cornwall Weekly Paper The WEST BRITON had gone too print.
Maybe the Sunday papers have the real story.

Anonymous said...

he'd like to spend more time with his researcher?

Anonymous said...

I think there's an awful lot to have a pop at within the Liberal democrats presently, but this story is just a non-story. Surely the very fact that Rob Fenwick dislikes him is conclusive evidence that maybe Matthew's face just doesn't fit into the rather cliquey and centralising regime that currently exists. Remember too there's probably a fair amount of jealousy about that Matthew does have a family and a life outside of politics rather than having to resort to his colleagues for surrogate family and life.

Also he's always been successful with women - what's wrong with that? Or do I detect a bit of jealousy around? He's a politician and he can be clear sighted, but an awful lot of people do like him - but he doesn't suffer fools. Those complaining might like to reflect on that.

And yes so his girlfriends ex may be having a tantrum. I don't know if that's true or not. But if it is it happens. Matthew has never gone on a back to basics crusade - those so-called Liberals who are using it now ought to reflect perhaps that it's just nice that he has found a rather more fulfilling life while he's still young enough to enjoy it. Perhaps the green-eyed monster lurks in the yellow belly.

As for moving his family - get a life. Perhaps he likes Cornwall. I've heard some people do. I dislike London, and so do the majority of the population. Perhaps he feels he would like to bring his family up elsewhere. It's hardly a matter for comment.

Finally it's no surprise to comment that Matthew is on the left of the Party. Given that he can hardly be feeling hugely comfortable given the current make-up of the 'shadow cabinet'.

I find Fenwick's comments breath-taking giving his comments about others posting last week - isn't name-calling in itself bullying?

Anonymous said...

Terrible suggestion? Get a life?

Why do you think so many MPs have affairs with their researchers and secretaries? It is because they only see their wives at the weekend. I would love to live in the countryside but since my work ties me to the City of London, if I moved out I would hardly see my family during the week.

Norfolk Blogger - The job of an MP involves representing a constituency in Westminster, not the other way around as some people seem to think. Anyway, I only suggested he moved his family not visit his constituency any less.