The Mid-Derbyshire MP Pauline Latham has written to the Prime Minister to inform him that she will not be seeking re-election at the next General Election, likely to take place in late 2024 or early 2025.
Mrs Latham's constituency - set up in 2010 - covers the extreme west and south-west of the Erewash Borough including Little Eaton and Breadsall; Ockbrook and Borrowash; Stanley; West Hallam and Dale Abbey, with the rest of Erewash covered by Maggie Throup MP.
Taking to social media, she said that it had been a privilege to serve for a nearly a decade and a half but added: "I believe that it is time for me to stand aside and allow someone with fresh ideas and experiences to enter Parliament and advocate for Mid-Derbyshire as I have done since 2010."
She continued: "I am proud of what I have achieved, including helping to preserve Derby County FC during the administration crisis in 2021-22, supporting local businesses and supporting individuals with their concerns.
"I am pleased to have succeeded in my campaigns in Parliament too. My campaign to end child marriage in this country through a backbench private member's bill took nearly six years, but culminated just a few weeks ago with the coming into force of one of the strongest child marriage laws anywhere in the World."
In her letter to the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Mrs Latham said that she had "...thought long and hard..." before making her decision not to seek re-election adding that representing Mid-Derbyshire has been the privilege of her political life.
She has lived in the constituency for over 40 years and served on Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, as Mayor and finally, as a Member of Parliament.
Her letter to Mr. Sunak said: "There are many moments and achievements from these 15 years which I will treasure and look back on with pride." and detailed the path of the child marriage legislation to statute booke.
Mrs Latham pledged to continue to represent the people of Mid-Derbyshire and to support the Government until the next General Election, and told the Prime Minister that she aimed to find a resolution to the future of the Belper Mills within the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site, which she described as "..an incredibly important project for the community of Belper."
She also detailed her plans after the next General Election when she will step down from her post.
She said: "I will spend more time with my friends and family. My husband Derek, and my children and grandchildren have been my greatest source of support, and I look forward to spending much more time with those closest to me. Life can be tough when families are separated each week and I think it is time to put them first. I do know however how hard it will be to step away from Parliament and the job I have enjoyed so much for these years."