Ann Cryer, the Labour MP for Keighley in Yorkshire, has announced that she will step down at the next election. The 69-year old cited "age, health and decreasing energy levels" as a reasons for her decision.
Her departure from parliament will greatly set back attempts to tackle issues such as honour-related violence towards women. Since becoming an MP in 1997, she has campaigned tirelessly - and often in the face of opposition from local male "community leaders" - to raise awareness of issues such as forced marriage, domestic violence and honour-killing.
Despite this, however, Ann Cryer said yesterday that she had achieved a great deal during her time as an MP. She told her constituents yesterday:
"My campaigns on behalf of some of our most vulnerable people are coming to fruition, the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act comes into effect in September. This Act, along with new immigration rules I have been calling for, will help many young women and to a lesser extent men to have a greater say in the conduct of their own lives."
But while Ms Cryer publicly blames her age and health for her departure, there may be other reasons for her decision. Several months ago, she told a seminar at Civitas, which I co-chaired, that she was facing increasing opposition from members of her local Labour party and from city leaders who felt that she was damaging the reputation of the Bradford area by drawing attention to issues relating to honour-based violence in the City - and that they wanted to have an MP who would avoid such difficult topics.
Hopefully, Ann Cryer's decision to stand down as an MP will give her more time and freedom to continue to campaign on behalf of vulnerable women - without interference from those who find such campaigns to be embarrassing or "difficult".
