London Assembly member Peter Fortune would like to be considered as a replacement for retiring MP Sir Bob Neill, he has told the News Shopper.

Mr Neill announced late last week that he would not seek re-election as Bromley and Chislehurst MP at the next general election.

He said he wanted to spend more time with his family – particularly his wife Ann-Louise, who is still recovering from a stroke five years ago.

The former barrister, who spent 16 years as a Conservative councillor in Havering before representing Bromley, said he had taken the decision “after a great deal of thought”.

Mr Fortune, assembly member for Bexley and Bromley, has thrown his hat into the ring as a possible replacement – despite polling website Electoral Calculus predicting that Mr Neill’s 11,000 majority at the last election will be converted to a Labour win at the next general election.

“I’ve represented Bromley for nearly 14 years now, as a local councillor, portfolio holder for education and children’s services, deputy leader and now London Assembly member,” he told the News Shopper.

“More importantly, it’s also my home. So it certainly is something I would like to be considered for.”

Mr Fortune paid tribute to Mr Neill, who himself served as Bromley’s assembly member from 2000, before becoming MP in 2006.

News Shopper: Sir Bob Neill has been Bromley and Chislehurst MP since he was first elected in a 2006 by-electionSir Bob Neill has been Bromley and Chislehurst MP since he was first elected in a 2006 by-election

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“Sir Bob has been a fantastic champion for Bromley and Chislehurst and a hugely respected parliamentarian and minister,” he said.

“His tenure as chairman of the Justice Select Committee has been highly respected across the legal profession and I am sure he’ll be missed.

“But Bob has always been somebody rooted in his home community and I know he’s looking forward to the next stage of his life.

“I thank him for his 50 years of public service and personally, I’ll always be grateful for his friendship and support.

“I wish him and Ann-Louise all the best for the future.”

Mr Fortune has previously stood as a Conservative candidate in the 2017 general election in Lewisham East, and the 2019 general election in Leeds Central.

He said his immediate focus was on the London mayoral election, during which he would be “working hard to make Susan Hall our next mayor”.