FORMER Castle Point MP Bob Spink has announced he is to take a break from politics.
Dr Spink was beaten to the Castle Point seat at the recent election by Conservative candidate Rebecca Harris.
In an open letter Dr Spink said: “I accept and respect people’s decision to remove me from public life.
“I do so without regret since I very much enjoyed serving, and have been honoured to serve, the people of Castle Point over the last 20 years. I hope now to enjoy life as a private person.”
Dr Spink stopped short of announcing his full retirement from politics and has yet to rule out a return.
The former Conservative MP had recently formed the Independent Save Our Greenbelt party and was keen to thank everyone involved in the previous campaign.
“I sincerely thank everyone who has helped me and particularly the wonderful people who supported me in various ways during the last election; they are all stars.”
Dr Spink was first elected as an MP back in 1992 but Labour’s dominance of the 1997 election saw him defeated.
He returned to the Commons in 2001 with a majority of just 985 before strengthening his position in 2005 with almost half the vote and an 8,201 majority.
Dr Spink left the Conservative party in 2008 to run as an independent candidate before announcing the creation of the Independent Save Our Greenbelt party in March of this year.
This May saw Dr Spink lose his Castle Point seat to Conservative candidate Rebecca Harris who won a majority of 7,632.
Dr Spink closed his letter saying: “I always did my very best, tried to help everyone, acted honourably and talked straight.
“I sincerely hope no one feels that I let them down, but I apologise to anyone who does.”