Lib Dems pay tribute to Howarth as he prepares to stand down

5.30.00pm GMT Thu 5th Nov 2009

Liberal Democrats have paid tribute to MP David Howarth's work during his 22 year political career after his announcement today that he is to stand down.

Cambridge City Council leader, Ian Nimmo-Smith said: "It has been really valuable to have an MP who understands the pressures on the local council and who is prepared to campaign for changes in unfair or damaging government policy. The most recent example is the victory in getting the government to provide fairer funding to meet the shortfall in its concessionary fares scheme."

Cambridge Liberal Democrat Party Chair, Rod Cantrill said: "It is with sadness that the local party has accepted David's decision not to re-stand at the next general election

"The strength of the Liberal Democrats in Cambridge today is due in great part to David's vision, hard work and determination over the last 20 years.

"In all his roles during that period, be it as a local campaigner, ward councillor, Leader of the City Council or Member of Parliament, David has worked tirelessly for the people of Cambridge and the local party.

"As a result we have an excellent platform on which the candidate we select over the coming months will fight the general election."

Cambridge City Council Deputy Leader, Catherine Smart said: "One of the things I admire about David as a campaigner is the way he has taken up causes which are not populist but of great importance to some vulnerable people. I am thinking particularly of the way he has espoused the cause of people on the autistic spectrum and opposed the cuts in the mental health service."