Christine Jardine to step down as Edinburgh West MP

Christine Jardine, the Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, has announced she will not stand for re-election at the next Westminster general election. Jardine, who has held the seat since 2017, stated that her decision follows a recent decision by some members of her local party.

While Jardine noted she had the option to request a membership ballot to contest her position, she decided not to pursue it to avoid further “tension and division” within the party. She expressed that it was a difficult decision made in the best interests of the party and her staff.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey praised Jardine as a “fantastic champion for Liberalism, Scotland and the people of Edinburgh,” specifically highlighting her contributions to the Domestic Abuse Act. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton also thanked her for her hard work representing the west of Edinburgh over the past nine years.