Eddisbury Conservative MP Stephen O’Brien is to step down and take up a top job at the United Nations.
Mr O’Brien, who has represented the constituency which includes many villages near Nantwich since 1999, will be in charge of humanitarian affairs and emergency relief at the UN.
He will step down as MP for Eddisbury, which covers a large rural area including Acton, Audlem, Bunbury, Minshull, Peckforton, and Wrenbury, at the General Election.
He succeeds former Labour minister Baroness Amos, who is stepping down from the UN role in May.
But Eddisbury’s Liberal Democrat candidate Ian Priestner said the sudden announcement so close to the election may make many residents feel “abandoned”.
He said: “Eddisbury residents, facing economic and political uncertainty with an election due in nine weeks, may well feel abandoned at this last-minute development.
“The Conservatives will select a candidate who will need to understand the constituency in a very short time, especially if they are parachuted in from a Cameron A-list.”
In a statement, the UN said Mr O’Brien would bring “extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy and advocacy” to his new role.
Mr O’Brien has yet to comment publicly on his new appointment.
Eddisbury residents, facing economic and political uncertainty with an election due in 9 weeks, may well feel abandoned at this last-minute development.
It won’t matter. It’s one of the safest Tory seats in the country. They will parachute in some candidate from London who is deemed to be a “rising star” in the party and the people will elect him/her.
Well I think you are right they will probably select a London candidate.Good news for the only local candidate me ! All the people I have spoken to on the doors are heartily fed up of being treated as a stepping stone for ambitious Tories .