Monday January 26th 2015
Midlothian Labour MP David Hamilton has announced that he will stand down at the general election in May.
He wrote a letter to the members of his local party members to tell them of his decision. He said he made his decision with “a great deal of pride, tinged with some considerable sadness”.
David Hamilton was elected as the Midlothian MP in 2001. He worked as a miner for 19 years after leaving school at 15.
In his letter, he wrote: “I believe that it is the right time for me to stand aside to allow the Labour Party in Midlothian to select a younger member, with fresh ideas and the hunger to meet the challenges of this changed landscape.”
He said that he wanted to spend more time with his wife, children and grandchildren.
Mr Hamilton was born in Dalkeith in Midlothian and worked as a miner. He became a councillor for six years before being elected to the House of Commons.
He said: “I have been immensely proud to serve in a Labour government that significantly changed how we live and part of the wider Labour movement since my youth, having served as Monktonhall pit delegate, councillor for Woodburn and MP for Midlothian since 2001.”
Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy said: “Davie Hamilton is a gentle giant of the Labour movement.
“He is a former miner and the current Labour whip for Scotland who goes about his politics with a real integrity.
“As a whip he has not been able to speak in parliament yet his campaigning for justice for miners has given a voice to the injustice of blacklisting.”
David Hamilton had a majority of 10,349 at the last general election. It is yet to be announced who will be Labour’s candidate in May.
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