- author, Adam Hale
- stock, BBC News
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Labor MP Kevin Brennan has announced he will stand down ahead of the general election.
Mr Brennan said In a post on X, formerly Twitter, She wanted to contest for a seventh term in Parliament following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s surprise election announcement, but changed her mind after discussions with her family.
He has served in the Cardiff West parliamentary constituency for 23 years and is Labour’s Shadow Minister for Victims and Sentencing.
In a social media post on Monday evening, Mr Brennan wrote: „I am announcing my decision to stand down as MP for Cardiff West after 23 years – thank you local Labor members and constituents for your friendship and support.”
He attached a personal statement in which he wrote that after speaking with his family, „I have decided that this is the right election for me to contest.”
“The work of a Member of Parliament is very rewarding but also very demanding on the individual and their loved ones.
„I’ve always enjoyed the intensity and challenge of it, but after surgery for prostate cancer a little doubt was planted about whether I should continue in such a full role.”
image source, Good pictures
„It’s very sad to be stepping down as an MP,” he said, and reiterated his support for Keir Starmer, „who I look forward to as Prime Minister in July” despite previously backing rival Lisa Nandy for the Labor leadership.
Mr Brennan was first elected in 2001, served as a whip under two Labor prime ministers, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and in three different ministerial posts.
Mr Brennan won the 2019 election with a majority of 10,986 votes.
But constituency boundaries have been changed for this year’s general election as the number of Welsh seats in Westminster has been reduced from 40 to 32.
The new Cardiff West constituency includes the Pontycloon wards of neighboring Rhondda Cynon Dough Council – which were previously part of the Labour-controlled Pontypridd and Oakmore seats.