A WELL-KNOWN Salisbury city councillor who stood in the previous three general elections has decided not to run for election again.

The general election will not take place until 2024 but Councillor Tom Corbin told the Journal that he has already made up his mind not to stand.

Feeling that he has given up so much of his own personal leave already as part of the council, and being the former Mayor, Councillor Tom Corbin said: “I am just going to do my normal council work. There is a lot of stuff I need to do. So, I am pretty burned out. I need to recover a bit.

“I am not intending on standing and have made that clear to the Labour party.”

Mr Corbin was the party’s candidate for Salisbury in 2015, 2017 and 2019. 

In 2017, Mr Corbin received 13,619 votes, almost doubling his 2015 tally. In 2019, he received 9,675 votes. 

He said: “I am well-known and have been asked a lot recently about whether I will stand again."

Read more: Beatles author asks for a 'little help' from Salisbury residents

Many people have suggested that now might be the best opportunity for him to become Salisbury's MP with the Conservative party so far behind in the polls. 

He aid: “There was a two-fold thing that took place. I toned things down when my wife Caroline became the mayor as that took place over two-years due to Covid, and I was very sensitive to not overly politicise things during that time. Then, I became Mayor. It kind of takes things out of you."

Read more: Living sculpture finished by local artist

Cllr Corbin will remain the councillor for Bemerton Heath and will continue to play his role on Salisbury Council where he is various committees for Community Services, Planning and Development, Personnel, Salisbury Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Group and Salisbury Conservation Area Panel.

He reflected: “There are things I did to be sensitive but in hindsight, perhaps I wouldn’t have done.

“Over the last two years in particular, I just want to be able to put my attention back into my own ward. A lot of things take up a lot of time like the local plan review, planning and air quality but I also need some time for me now.”