General election 2017: Shaun Davies rules out challenging Lucy Allan as Telford MP
Shaun Davies, the Labour leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, has ruled himself out of standing against Lucy Allan in the forthcoming general election.
Mr Davies has dismissed speculation over whether he would put himself forward as a potential Labour candidate for the Telford seat, which Ms Allan secured for the Conservatives with a majority of just 730 in 2015.
The Labour council leader said that having recently become a parent now is not the right time to attempt to become an MP, describing the job as "something that changes your life".
He said: "I just became a dad four weeks ago, the timing could not be worse for me. If you are going to put your name forward you have to be prepared and want to win. Winning would mean living in London three to four days a week and that is not what I want to do at this time of my life."
Councillor Davies also said he is committed to his position as leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, which he has held since May last year.
He said: "I was elected as council leader last May so I am only a year into the job which I really enjoy and I want to do. Becoming an MP would mean I have to step down and that is not what I want to do."
Councillor Davies would not be drawn on whether he would like to stand in future, saying: "That is a question that is at least five years away."
However, he did insist that if he does put himself forward in the future it would have to be for the Telford constituency.
He said: "I have not got a burning desire to be an MP because I think you can do so much good stuff locally with the council. It would have to be representing Telford, if I was going to stand it would be in Telford because it is my home and I am a Telford boy."
