Former MP Gordon retires
The 74-year-old Liberal Democrat candidate, who represented the town for five years from 2010, said the time was right after finishing third with 6,046 votes.
“We have been squeezed out. I didn’t expect anything else to be honest.
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Hide Ad“When Theresa May became Prime Minister, the party asked me if I would stand again if there was a snap election. I said I would up until May 31st, 2017, after that, no. I’m 74 years old, I should be retiring from this. And then she called it on May 21st. So I said I would stand.
"We still campaigned hard, knocked on a lot of doors and handed out a lot of leaflets. But it was difficult out there. It’s been an uphill battle with the people of Burnley voting leave and the national party pushing for another referendum. which I didn’t agree with."
A ward councillor for Coal Clough with Deerplay, he doesn’t have any plans to walk away from local politics just yet.
“I wanted to do 40 years in politics and I have done 35 so hopefully I can do another five.
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Hide Ad“Nationally though I have seen my last election ballot box emptied. I would like to thank my family and my team for standing by me over the years. I really enjoyed my time as MP, it was a great honour.
“I am ready to put my feet up now and spend the kids’ inheritance.”