Top politician shuns race to become MP

A LEADING Ipswich politician tipped to be the town's Lib Dem candidate at the next general election has today revealed he will not bid to become an MP.

Andrew Cann, son of late Ipswich MP Jamie Cann, is a member of both Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council and had been the frontrunner to contest the town's seat for the Lib Dems at the next election.

However, he told The Evening Star he has taken a decision not to stand for parliament “now or ever”, a move he said had made for “personal reasons”.

Mr Cann said he had come to the realisation that pursuing a professional career in politics was not right for him.

“You have got to want to have a career in politics and I don't want to have a career in politics,” he said.

“It is something I do in my spare time and I have probably given as much time as I want to it.”

He added that he will continue to sit on Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council.

The Lib Dems are yet top nominate an official candidate to stand for Ipswich at the next general election, expected to be held in 2010, although Mr Cann had been odds-on favourite to get the nod.

His father Jamie Cann, who died in 2001, was elected to the House of Commons for the first time as a Labour MP in 1992.

Jamie Cann's career prior to entering parliament included a 12-year stint as the leader of Ipswich Borough Council.

He was succeeded as MP for Ipswich by Chris Mole.

Ben Gummer has already been selected to stand for the Conservatives at the next election.

Should Andrew Cann stand at the next election? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk