A VETERAN MP who is standing down says it has been an “enormous honour” to have served his constituency.

Sir Eric Pickles, MP for Brentwood and Ongar, announced on April 22 that he would not stand in the upcoming general election on June 8, despite being invited to by the Conservative party.

The former secretary of state for communities and local government, who was knighted in 2015, has represented Brentwood and Ongar for 25 years, after being elected in 1992.

His political career spans for 40 years and he served as a councillor before entering parliament.

The former Conservative party chairman praised the local support of his constituency and said: “It has been an enormous honour to represent the constituency for 25 years.

“Brentwood and Ongar is a wonderful place to live. Throughout that quarter of a century, I have enjoyed success and some setbacks, but have always been sustained by the friendship back home in the patch.This was particularly true when public office kept me away from my constituency. The warmth of local support was always a source of great strength.”

The 65-year-old, who voted remain in last summer’s EU referendum, suggests that he would have carried on until 2020 if it was not for the snap election.

He added: “I had intended the present parliament to be my last one, and I am grateful for the invitation to serve a further five years. After much heart searching, I have concluded that now is the right time for Brentwood and Ongar to have a new representative in Westminster. Accordingly, I do not wish to have my name put forward as a candidate.”

Sir Pickles endorsed the Prime Minister and said: “I strongly believe that it is in the national interest for Theresa to receive the clear endorsement of the British people for her difficult task of removing this country from the EU. She has proved to be a great PM and has my full support in the coming campaign.”

A new Conservative candidate will be chosen and announced in a party meeting next week.