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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Gregor Young

Red Wall Tory MP and minister announces she's stepping down

ONE of the "Red Wall" Tory MPs elected under Boris Johnson in 2019 has announced that she will stand down at the next election.

Dehenna Davison became the first ever Conservative MP for County Durham constituency Bishop Auckland when she was elected.

Recent polling suggested Davison would lose Bishop Auckland at the next General Election, with Labour reportedly having an 87% chance of winning the seat.

The 29-year-old recently became Levelling Up Minister, a role she told The Northern Echo was “the dream”.

But revealing her decision to stand down at the next General Election she said she feels “the time is right”.

The National: Dehenna Davison was elected as the first Conservative MP for Bishop Auckland in 2019.Dehenna Davison was elected as the first Conservative MP for Bishop Auckland in 2019. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Davison said: “For my whole adult life, I’ve dedicated the vast majority of my time to politics, and to help make people’s lives better.

“But, to be frank, it has meant I haven’t had anything like a normal life for a 20-something.        

“I’ve worked on, managed, and stood in so many election campaigns, and, since being elected in 2019, I’ve given my all to being an MP."

The National: Dehenna Davison backed Liz Truss in the summer's leadership race.Dehenna Davison backed Liz Truss in the summer's leadership race. (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

“I will always be humbled to have had the opportunity to serve as a Member of Parliament. But now the time feels right for me to devote more of my attention to life outside politics - mainly to my family and helping support them as they’ve helped support me.

“That’s why I won’t be standing in the next General Election.”

The MP, who supported Liz Truss during this summer’s leadership contest, has also forged a career on TV, presenting for right-wing news channel GB News.

The National: Davison was elected as Bishop Auckland MP in 2019.Davison was elected as Bishop Auckland MP in 2019. (Image: TOM BANKS)

“For now, I’m not sure what my future beyond MP life looks like, but, when the time comes, I’m really excited to find out," she said.

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