Louise Mensch quits as Tory MP to spend more time with family

Shanna McGoldrick
WVoN co-editor 

British conservation Member of Parliament (MP), Louise Mensch, has decided to step down from her post to spend more time with her children, it was revealed earlier this week.

In her letter of resignation to the prime minister, David Cameron, the MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire thanked him for his support but said she could not juggle the demands of her work with that of her family.

Mensch and her three children will now move to New York to join her husband, who is the manager of pop groups Metallica and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

Her resignation could cost the Tories the Corby and East Northamptonshire seat, which was held by Labour for 13 years before Mensch won by a narrow majority in 2010.

A by-election has been scheduled for November 15.

Mensch admitted that the decision had been tough, but refused to be drawn into a wider debate about the work-life balance of women in politics.

“Every family is different and another mother might feel she can manage things,” she told The Guardian.

“I am completely devastated,” she added. “It’s been unbelievably difficult to manage family life.

“We have been trying to find a way forward with the Prime Minister’s office but I just can’t spend as much time with my children as I want to.”

Cameron said he accepted Mensch’s resignation with regret, but understood that the interests of her family must come first.