Cllr Ed Northover, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Leyton & Wanstead, calls for an immediate by-election following MP Harry Cohen's decision to stand down (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Cllr Ed Northover, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Leyton & Wanstead, calls for an immediate by-election following MP Harry Cohen's decision to stand down

3:16pm Tuesday 30th June 2009 in

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THE Conservative Party's prospective parliamentary candidate for Leyton & Wanstead has welcomed Harry Cohen's decision not to stand at the next election - but has called for an immediate by-election.

Ed Northover, a Waltham Forest councillor representing Larkswood ward, is hoping to win the Leyton seat at the next general election.

Mr Northover said: "Through conversations with local people here it has become clear to me that Harry had lost the respect of those that put him in Westminster"

"There was genuine anger about his expenses claims and quite frankly bemusement at his claim to be a "better MP than Churchill" .

"Though he has been a long-standing servant of Leyton & Wanstead, the expenses scandal has raised serious questions about Harry's judgment. It is right that he should step down.

"He must also consider paying back any money that was claimed inappropriately".

He added: "However, we would like to give Harry Cohen a chance to retire to his Essex home early.

"We are therefore calling on him to stand down now and call a by-election.

"We want to offer the people of Leyton & Wanstead a clear alternative to this moribund government".

Labour currently holds the seat by a majority of 7,122 votes.