Tom Watson
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
(0207218 8123 | wrinw.tom-watson.com
Jeremy Corbyn
Houses of Pariament
London, SW1A 0AA
6 November 2019
Dear Jeremy,
Ihave taken the very difficult decision to stand down as a Member of Partiament and Labour Deputy Leader at
the forthcoming election
Serving the Labour Party has been the privilege ofa lifetime. | joined in 1982 and never imagined that one day @
kid from Kidderminster would be the party's Deputy Leader.
Most importantly for me, for the last 18 years it's been my immense honour to represent people from Sancwell
I's hard to find words to express my deep gratitude to the people who trusted me to fight their corner.
The Black Country is the very best of Britain. Communities who look out for their neighbours. who want to get on
but not at the expense of others. And the people who make up this area are the most honest and decent you'll
find. anywhere in the world.
But now is the right time for me to stand down from the House of Commons and start a cifferent kind of
life. The decision is personal, net palitical.
‘The last few years have been among the most tranisformational of my personal life, second only to becoming a
proud father of two beautiful children. !'ve become healthy for the first time, and | intend to continue with this work
in the years to come.
| want to thank you for the decency and courtesy you have shown me over the last four years, even in difficult
times.
Our many shared interests are less well known than our political differences. but | will continue to devote myself
to the things we often tak about: gambling reform, music and arts, stopping press intrusion, obesity and public,
health and of course horticutture and cycling
In the years to come | will be focusing even more on those policy interests. | will devote myself to writing about
the public heath challenge facing our county, taking on the sugar companies, campaigning for policy change.
and setting up a ‘remission for all’ movement for type 2 diabetics. | have a book on ‘downsizing’ coming out in the
new year. | will announce further plans in the coming months, but | am excited about working with people I've met
and many I've not.
I might be standing down as an MP but | won't be leaving politics altogether.
This election is a turning point for our country and | know that Labour goes into it united in our determination to
remove the Conservative government that has done so much damage to the communities Labour was founded to
represent.
Iwill be taking an active part in this election campaign. | will continue as Deputy Leader until 12 December and
will do everything | can to return a team of Labour MPs who willl transform our country.
| sill belive with my whole heart what | belioved when | joined on my 18th birthday in 1982: that the Labour Party
is the most powerful vehice for social change this country has ever produced. | will never stop fighting for it.
Yours sincerely,
rae
faLabourServing the Labour Party has been the privilege of a lifetime. Ijoined in 1982 and never imagined
that one day a kid from Kidderminster would be the party’s Deputy Leader.
Most importantly for me, for the last 18 years it’s been my immense honour to represent people
from Sandwell.’ hard to find words to express my deep gratitude to the people who trusted me to
fight their corner.
The Black Country is the very best of Britain. Commurities who look out for their neighbours, who
want to get on but notat the expense of others. Black Country people are the best in the world.
But now isthe right time for me to stand down from national politics. The disagreements we have
had inside the party are well-known; now is not the time to rehearse them again
For me, the last few years have been personally transformational, second only to becoming a proud
fathar of two beautiful children
Downsizing and becoming healt hy for the first time has inspired me to devote the next phase of my
life to public health, using my own experience and working with entrepreneurs and public servants.
|1am incredibly optimistic about reversing the national public health crisis through education, deep
technology and public policy. | will devote myself to writing about this challenge, agitating for policy
change and setting up a ‘remission for alf movement for type 2 diabetics. | will announce further
plans in the coming months, but | am excted about working with people I've met and many t've not.
| might be leaving Westminster but I won't be leaving politics altogether. Iwill continue tochampion
progressive social democracy and a political culture that is inclusive, diverse and respects the
Opinions of others. In recent years we've lost sight of that simple politeness which used to define us
asa nation. We need to find it again.
| will not be walking away from the election campaign. | will continue as Deputy Leader until
December 12th and will do everything | can to return a team of bright, progressive Labour MPs.
Since its formation, the Labour Party has been the most powerful vehicle for social crange this
country has ever produced. | am deeply proud of what past Labour governments achieved and
determined that we do so again.