Lib Dem London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon announced today at the London Regional Conference that she will not stand for re-election in 2024. Later she tweeted:
It's been an honour to have served for 14 years as a Lib Dem London Assembly Member. I will stand down from the Assembly at the 2024 GLA elections. I am proud to serve as a strong Liberal voice in our great city and thank everyone for their support over many happy years.
— Caroline Pidgeon AM🔶 🇺🇦 (@CarolinePidgeon) November 12, 2022
Caroline will be greatly missed by colleagues from all parties, including London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, whom she stood against when he was first elected in 2016:
Thank you for your service to our capital Caroline. You are a hugely respected champion for our city and have made a difference to the lives of many Londoners as an Assembly Member. https://t.co/8KT6S0PxdK
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) November 12, 2022
Similar praise came from Conservative and Green Assembly members;
I for one am very sad @CarolinePidgeon is a truly lovely lady who could not work harder. She will be sorely missed by all.
— Susan Hall AM (@Councillorsuzie) November 12, 2022
Huge respect for Caroline and her work for Londoners over the last 14 years.
She's always brought a very keen eye for scrutiny and also works in a co-operative, collaborative way which is often politics at its best.
Thank you, Caroline! https://t.co/r6vK0c6SxL
— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) November 12, 2022
And Liberal Democrats were keen to thank her for all she has done over the years:
You are a true @LibDems hero. We owe you so much for flying the liberal flag at City Hall for the past 14 years. Thank you for everything you’ve done for London and for always being so kind and supportive. I look forward to continuing to work with you.. ☺️
— Cllr Anton Georgiou 🔶 (@anton_georgiou) November 12, 2022
A true #LondonHero, honoured to call you a friend @CarolinePidgeon
Your achievements for the @LibDems are second to none, you have been an outstanding @LondonAssembly member with a real record to be proud of, thank you for all you have done. pic.twitter.com/FrKnfMb6Ea— Terry Stacy MBE (he/him) (@TerryStacyLD) November 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/markpack/status/1591445716169261057?s=20&t=PI4tLHEzEoM-hhLewDlIGQ
Caroline – you are a London hero – actually an everywhere hero. What a amazing record of achievement. Thank you xxxx
— Lynne Featherstone (@lfeatherstone) November 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/europesheila/status/1591468702398136321?s=20&t=PI4tLHEzEoM-hhLewDlIGQ
We are really going to miss her on the Assembly. The last word for now goes to Hina Bokhari, who joined Caroline last year:
What an honour it is to work with @CarolinePidgeon.
She has been an amazing colleague and friend and has left a phenomenal Liberal legacy in #London. What ever happens next for you Caroline, we know you won’t be far from keeping the Liberal heart beating in our City. https://t.co/GmD9Mca90H pic.twitter.com/tOsRJWJOp5
— Hina Bokhari AM 🔶 (@HinaBokhariLD) November 12, 2022
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
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4 Comments
Thank you Caroline for your amazing service as a LibDem for London. You have a record second to none and I thank you for the dedication you have shown over the past 14 years. It is important to set boundaries and I know just how hard it is being an elected representative when you are one of just a few.
I have no doubt that you have plans for what you want to do after you step down and I wish you the very best whatever your future holds.
Caroline has been the public face of the party in London for such a long time doing some amazing work. I wish her well in the future and thank her for the contribution to promoting Liberalism.
An incomparable record; especially added to the years on Southwark Council. All prominent Lib Dems have to be in five places at once. Caroline perfected that art. Amazing.
A huge loss for London I reckon. Always replied promptly to emails whether on transport issues, part-time fares, station lifts failing, preserving our SNT police, enthusiastically engaging with council tenants like myself. A real champion of London politics and I will sorely miss Caroline’s efforts, endeavours and commitment to the improving the lives of Londoners. I do hope she will stand as an MP in the future.