Following the decision to hold a General Election on Thursday 12th December, Sir Alan Duncan has decided that now is the time to stand down as our Member of Parliament for the Rutland and Melton Constituency. 

Sir Alan has served the constituency since 1992 and has worked hard for his constituents both in Westminster and in the constituency. 

Sir Alan said; 'There is no right time to go but I felt I’d had a good run over my 27 years. Seven shadow cabinet jobs, seven years as a minister of state, two years on the Intelligence Committee, heaven knows how many leadership campaigns, and two by-passes funded in the constituency.

Rutland & Melton is one of the country’s prime seats and we have benefited from one of the highest percentages of support for the Conservative Party and regular solid majorities over Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

I look forward to offering my successor the fullest possible support and am confident that Boris Johnson will win the election on the 12th December with a comfortable working majority.

Serving as an MP and for seven years as a government minister has occupied the major part of my working life and I consider myself very fortunate to have worked with such dedicated local people and organisations.

I wish the Association and my successor every good fortune and will look back on the 30 years since I was selected with great affection and pride.

I would like to extend to all members of the Association, its officers and my hardworking staff, my gratitude for their commitment and sense of duty.' 

Byron Rhodes, Chairman of Rutland and Melton Conservative Association, said; ' I would like to extend my thanks to Sir Alan for his 27 years of service to the constituency and to the Association, he has been a dedicated public servant and I wish him well in his retirement from public life. 

We will be holding a selection meeting on Friday 8th November for our members to choose our candidate for the forthcoming General Election. All of our members who are eligible to vote (those who have been a member continuously for three months or more) will be invited to attend the selection meeting.'