Ealing Southall MP Virendra Sharma ‘I will not be standing at the next election’ – EALING.NEWS – The Voice of Ealing 7 towns

After 17 years, Ealing Southall MP Virendra Sharma has announced he will not seek re-election at the next general election on July 4, 2024.

Mr Sharma, former Ealing councillor. has represented Ealing Southall since 2007, following a by-election triggered by the death of MP Piara Khabra. He said early Monday (May 27, 2024) evening: “For almost 50 years I have served the party in one form or another. Now I think it’s time to start another chapter. I want to inform you that I will not run for the next elections”.

In the last election in 2019, Mr Sharma had a majority of 16,084 over the Conservatives.

In his letter to Ealing Southall Labor Party members, Mr Sharma said:

“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve as Member of Parliament for Ealing Southall. In five elections I have been honored to be re-elected each time and to have the support of the Labor Party to run again now. It has been a pleasure to work for and with many people in Ealing Southall, in Greenford, West Ealing, Hanwell, Northfields and Southall. I am proud of what we have achieved, the vibrancy of our community and its unity.

“It is clear to me that the country is crying out for change and that Keir, Angela and the entire Labor Party are the change this country needs. I was proud to nominate Keir for leader in 2020 and the promises he made then to rebuild this party put us on the path to power and made me proud to be a Labor MP. We swept anti-Semitism from the Labor Party and went from the worst result in a century to the fringes of Government.

“As a British-Indian and as a Hindu, as a Labor member, councilor and MP, I have never struggled to reconcile those different but complementary identities. For almost 50 years I have served the party in one form or another. Now I think it’s time to start another chapter.

“I want to inform you that I will not run for the next election. From surgeries, community forums, charity fairs and street stalls, I am proud of the work I have done for the Conservatives and for the people of Ealing Southall. I’m sure my successor will do the same and wish everyone the best of luck in the most amazing job they’ll ever have.

“This does not dim my desire for Labor to win and I am sure we will. I will continue to support Labor and hope to continue to be part of the Labor project, but not from within the House of Commons. The help and support of so many friends and family over the past fifty years has made this possible, but most of all the constant support of my wife Nirmala.

“I want to wish you well in your election campaign, I’ll still be out there hitting the streets and I look forward to celebrating with everyone as Labor enters Downing Street.”

Ealing Southall Labor has not announced details of who will be its candidate for the election.

As candidates from all parties and independents are announced, EALING.NEWS will provide comprehensive coverage and updates on who is standing in each of Ealing’s three constituencies.

Previously announced candidates standing in the 4th July 2024 general election for Ealing Southall are:

Steve Chilcott (Reform UK)
Tariq Mahmood (Liberal Democrats)
Neil Reynolds (Green Party)