MP had no plan to retire

We win! Michael Meacher retained his seat with a huge majority at the last General Election

MICHAEL Meacher had retained his Oldham West and Royton seat with a 14,738 majority in May’s general election.

The 75-year-old Labour veteran, an Oldham MP since 1970, received 55 per cent of the vote and declared his win a “sensational victory”.

Mr Meacher would have been 80 by the next General Election, but had refused to rule out retirement: “I am getting to an age where people do retire,” he said, “but as long as I have my health and the drive to support this constituency the best I can I will do so. I can’t really think about the next election just yet.”