Nickie Aiken MP

NICKIE Aiken has announced she will not stand for re-election when the country heads to the polls later this year.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Conservative MP for Cities of London and Westminster said she was leaving politics to support her husband.

Alex Aiken is a senior civil servant who has recently bagged a top job working as a spin doctor for the United Arab Emirates ministry of foreign Affairs.

Ms Aiken was elected to represent the “Two Cities” constituency as part of the new intake of MPs who won their seats following Boris Johnson’s landslide general election victory in 2019. She beat her Liberal Democrat rival Chuka Umunna to win seat with a majority of 3,953.

But she broke ranks in the midst of “Partygate” in May 2022 to call for Mr Johnson to submit himself for a vote of no confidence to “end speculation” about the scandal. And she warned that events in Downing Street during the Covid-19 pandemic had “damaged the government and Conservative Party”.

Her intervention came after the shock local election result that saw control of Westminster City Council pass to the Labour Party for the first ever time. She formally withdrew her support for Mr Johnson in July of that year, following the resignation of some 36 ministers and ministerial aides.

Ms Aiken’s decision to leave government makes her the latest MP to join what is being described as an “exodus” of Conservative politicians from Westminster ahead of the general election.

More than 50 Conservative MPs, including the former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and ex-defence secretary Ben Wallace, have announced they will not stand again.

Ms Aiken has served as an elected public official for 18 years, first as a Westminster councillor before becoming leader of the city council in 2017.

She said: “I have been privileged to represent the most diverse and vibrant part of London, with its rich culture and history. This is not a decision I have taken lightly.

“My husband, Alex, who has supported me steadfastly throughout my political career, has accepted a job offer overseas and he deserves my full support as he pursues a new career.

“While a councillor, I was proud to spearhead the ‘Don’t Be Idle’ campaign, cleaning up our air; to launch City Lions, inspiring our next generation; to introduce the gang intervention unit, cutting serious youth crime; to put in place the voluntary community contribution, giving local people funding for projects in their neighbourhoods; and to launch the largest council housebuilding programme Westminster has seen in a generation.

“As a Member of Parliament, I’ve worked tirelessly to secure pedicabs legislation; raised awareness of workplace rights for fertility treatment; supported the most vulnerable in our society; led the campaign to repeal the 1824 Vagrancy Act; fought to save our buses; launched our plan to make our streets safer; secured a pioneering newborn screening programme; and supported our children by securing changes to the Domestic Abuse Bill to recognise children living in abusive households as victims too.

“I’ve brought leasehold reform to the front of the government’s agenda; won the case for a short-term lets register; spoken out on women’s health issues; and championed our businesses to give them the support they needed.

“I remain loyal to my party and our prime minister.

“I will remain in the UK, and as the MP for the Cities of London & Westminster, until the general election is called, and I will continue to work hard for my constituents and campaign on the issues I believe in.

“I will continue to work on our local campaigns such as e-bike regulation, leasehold reform, professional certificates for delivery cyclists, tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, and the implementation of our pedicabs licensing scheme.”