Lib Dem MP announces she will not fight the next election

A respected Lib Dem MP who influenced the party strongly on equality issues has announced she will not fight the election after attempts to deselect her.

Allies of Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine have told The Independent that she has decided to not stand at the next election as a Lib Dem because she was being forced out in favour of an ally of the party’s Scottish leader Alex Cole-Hamilton.

The 65-year-old former journalist had failed to get reselected by her constituency party’s executive committee and has decided not to push for a vote of all the members in the seat.

In a statement, Ms Jardine pointedly noted that she did not want “to expose anyone to more tension and division” by continuing to attempt to get reselected.

She said: “I have written to my local party to let them know I shall not be standing as the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh West at the next election, following the recent decision by some of the local party.

"I have informed them that although I am able to request a ballot of the membership, it is with a heavy heart that I have decided not to pursue this. I do not wish to expose anyone to more tension and division.

"I shall continue to represent my constituents with the care I have always sought to bring over the last nine years.

"It has been, and remains, an honour and a privilege to represent this part of the city, and to work with our fantastic communities."

A former journalist and then special adviser at the Scotland Office during the coalition government, Ms Jardine was first elected in Edinburgh West in the 2017 snap election called by Theresa May after the EU referendum.

She had previously fought the Gordon seat against former SNP leader Alex Salmond.

While she was sacked as the Lib Dem’s equalities spokesperson by party leader Sir Ed Davey for defying the party whip in a Commons vote, it is understood that he has been “very supportive” of her while she faced seselection.

A motion supporting trans rights passed at the Lib Dem conference was carried partly because of the work she had done on equalities even though she was unable to attend the conference in Brighton.

Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey, said: “Christine is a fantastic champion for Liberalism, Scotland and the people of Edinburgh.

“For me, her work on the Domestic Abuse Act stands out. She has improved things for survivors and children in ways many will never know.“I know there’s a lot more to come in this parliament too.”

The Independent has contacted Scottish Lib Dems and Mr Cole-Hamilton for comment.