Standing Down

Whatever happens in the general election, dozens of new MPs will be entering the Commons in 2015 – but what advice would their predecessors give them? With big names such as Dame Tessa Jowell, Jack Straw and David Willetts all exiting the parliamentary stage in May, there is no better opportunity to look back on the fascinating careers of some of the most formative figures in UK politics in recent decades. Speaking candidly about their highs and lows, their contributions and regrets, their backgrounds and future plans, these twenty-six retiring MPs, interviewed by political journalist Rosa Prince, provide frank and exclusive insights into their time in Parliament, the seminal events they witnessed and their reasons for leaving. With pearls of wisdom from Sir Menzies Campbell – 'MPs always know when it's time to stand down, but they don't always admit it to themselves' – and David Blunkett – 'Knowing when to go is as important as knowing when to step up'...