THE MP for North Dorset Bob Walters has announced that he is standing down from parliament at the next election.

He has represented the people of the constituency which includes Verwood and Alderholt for nearly 18 years and has decided to retire from frontline politics as he will close to 72 at the end of the next parliamentary cycle.

Mr Walters said he wants to offer the opportunity to a younger Conservative to represent North Dorset as their Member of Parliament. He is convinced that the next generation will provide a representative who will work tirelessly to represent the needs of his rural constituency in the years to come.

He said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the people of North Dorset for the last 17 years as their elected Member of Parliament. Stepping down has been a very difficult decision and not one I have taken lightly.

“However, I want the best for my constituents and am now confident that a new Conservative MP will be better able, by the end of the next parliament, to withstand the rigors of what is undoubtedly a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week job. They will have my full support.

“I and my team in Westminster and at my Blandford constituency office will, of course, continue to represent and provide assistance to all constituents who have need of it up until 7 May 2015, when a new MP for North Dorset will be elected.”