The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Louise Mensch resigns as an MP

Conservative MP plans to move to New York to live with her husband.

By George Eaton Published 06 August 2012 9:23

Louise Mensch, the Conservative MP for Corby. Photograph: Getty Images.

Louise Mensch, the Conservative MP for Corby, is resigning to move to New York. Photograph: Getty Images.

To the surprise of most people, Louise Mensch has just announced that she is resigning as an MP with immediate effect. Mensch intends to move to New York to live with her husband, Metallica manager Peter Mensch, who is based in the city. She told her local paper, the Northamptonshire Telegraph:

I am completely devastated. 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.

I love Corby and East Northamptonshire but my family has to come first.

When I took the post I was in a different position but sometimes life throws you a curve ball that you didn’t expect.

We are now going to be moving out to New York as a family.

Every family is different and another mother might feel she can manage things.

It’s been an honour to represent the people of Corby and East Northants and I will miss them.

As I said, Mensch's decision will come as a surprise to most people, but she had previously hinted that she would leave politics behind. In an interview with the New Statesman last October, she told Jon Bernstein:

I may well do something else. I'm not sure I make old bones in parliament. It's an amazing experience to have had but I can't see myself being Mother of the House.

Asked if she would fight the next election, she replied:

I haven't made up my mind. It is an extremely difficult balancing act with three small children and a husband who lives in New York. I'm stretched multiple ways.

The Tories now face what is likely to be a challenging by-election in Corby on 15 November. At the last election, the party narrowly gained the seat from Labour with a majority of 1,951.

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Tags: Conservatives Louise Mensch

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30 comments

Tue, 2012-08-07 13:06 — insert name here (not verified)

All four wheels have come off the CallMeDave bandwagon and are rolling into the sunset. There are no more gifts in his favour to bestow. As Mensch was parachuted in, so she is bailing out.
"Conservative means deliver liberal ends" made a jaunty tagline on a Twitter bio. But in the cold light of an unrelenting double dip recession those hastily removed words ring increasingly hollow. The cosmetically enhanced cheerleader for the airbrushed Tory party is packing her bags and heading back stateside.

Mon, 2012-08-06 20:06 — myouz (not verified)

LM has let down the people of Corby who were merely pawns in her media career. I would not be surprised if we see her working for Murdoch. Frankly I find her a plastic airhead!!!

Wed, 2012-08-08 10:26 — Samantha Hames (not verified)

'A plastic airhead?' That's interesting, the language that you use is interesting. It's heavily gendered, I'm guessing you wouldn't refer to a man in the same position as a 'plastic airhead.' I wholeheartedly respect your opinion but have you thought about the fact that we're ignoring the most important aspect of feminism here...choice. There is no right way for women. We will only progress once we've realised that. There is no perfect balance between work and the domestic for women because there is no 'right' way to be a woman. What really, really matters is choice. Louise Mensch made a choice as a person, rather than as a woman. She gave up her chance to be a feminist standard bearer for 'powerful women.' Whether right or wrong, it's female choice.

I wrote a short piece on this recently. Public reaction to her resignation has been very interesting indeed. bit.ly/OIUXwq

Mon, 2012-08-06 19:54 — Marathonman (not verified)

I'm sure she was once nominated for arse of the year- or was it rear of the year? All the same I suppose.

Tue, 2012-08-07 11:08 — Mr Danger

Its interesting to read this kind of brain dead sexism directed at someone who has already had to deal with online stalkers.

I guess when the left does it, its "progressive".

Mon, 2012-08-06 19:28 — Marathonman (not verified)

Actually, when I think about it, she wasn't all that bad. A Friday nighter though!

Mon, 2012-08-06 18:57 — Marathonman (not verified)

She was nothing more than an attention seeker. She sang the Tory tune in the most annoyingly condescending way.

Mon, 2012-08-06 18:48 — p j wall (not verified)

Mensch did enough 'Sycophantic' bottom licking to ensure herself some sort of employment from Murdoch in the states!, she`d be a great pundit for the 'Fair and Balanced' Fox News?, after all, they come out with a lot of vomit churning bile aswell!!!.

Mon, 2012-08-06 16:57 — hugh markey (not verified)

'My God, I don't know how she does it?' Louise would have been perfect for the role.
And with three kids too. Chick-lit author, MP, feminist, wife and mother, not forgetting Rock Babe - awesome. And no air-brushing. Of course she should have been made a minister. Bad timing, Dave. Too late now. Forget the immigration figures for a moment. Leave it to Damien 'The Omen" Green. He's a whizz at figures.
Oh, cripes, almost forgot. Access to kids by first husband - guaranteed. And don't forget Granny! And Granddad! Yes, there is Skype, email and texting. The personal touch, you mean.

Multi-tasking Better Half

Mon, 2012-08-06 16:04 — PatM

"When I took the post" - that sums up the Tory contempt for democracy. Last time I checked, MPs were still elected.

Mon, 2012-08-06 18:14 — Mr Danger

She checked by running for election.

Mon, 2012-08-06 14:00 — Fraziel1

Why are people surprised by this? She was just another posho playing at being a politician. I have always felt it was just a matter of time before she chucked it.

Mon, 2012-08-06 17:08 — Mr Danger

Class hatred is not a substitute for thought. Get a life.

Mon, 2012-08-06 13:59 — Fraziel1

Why are people surprised by this? She was just another posho playing at being a politician. I have always felt it was just a matter of time before she chucked it.

Mon, 2012-08-06 12:23 — Benjamin Rae (not verified)

Good riddance. Unpleasant person an incompetent MP by all accounts.

Mon, 2012-08-06 13:41 — Mr Danger

I never figured out the left's weird, obsessive hatred of her. Was it because she stood up for free speech?

Mon, 2012-08-06 23:55 — Pavlova

It's cos she's female innit.

Mon, 2012-08-06 15:05 — Benjamin Rae (not verified)

Hate is a strong word. I hate her right wing , reactionary politics. Beyond cringing at her appearances on Have I Got News For You this the first time I've commented on her. Less of her kind in UK politics is a step forward

Mon, 2012-08-06 17:03 — Mr Danger

Right wing, reactionary politics? Yet you can't come up with any substantive criticisms in two posts. Oh well.

Mon, 2012-08-06 20:47 — Benjamin Rae (not verified)

The cuts imposed by this government, especially towards the vulnerable and disabled allied with the ridiculous attitude towards the EU combine to make this government the most right wing post war by some distance.
The fact that she's a very vocal supporter of it says it all, not to mention her staunch defence of Rupert Murdoch.
In my humble opinion, to be on the right in the current economic/political context means your not a moderate

Tue, 2012-08-07 11:03 — Mr Danger

You mean when they raised benefits 4.5% last year, more than working people were getting? How right wing can you get!

But if you think that everyone who isn't left is by definition extreme right, you pretty much don't need a rebuttal.

Tue, 2012-08-07 11:05 — Mr Danger

And given that Labour promised almost the same cuts, I guess that makes them extreme left too. So 'centrist' is what, the SWP?

Mon, 2012-08-06 10:52 — hugh markey (not verified)

It's called 'soft' feminism. Wifely duties come first. It's not a display of dependent womanhood within a paternal setting a la Boney the Corsican turned Frenchy. Will some Alpha Male stop crooning that bloody song 'Every Leetle Breeze seems to whisper Louise." A little bit of the cavalier and less of the chevalier, please.
More importantly was Louise Mensche - is that a pen name - on of Cameron's picks?
On the parachute list? Ticked all the boxes?
Dave must be doing his nut. An UK emigrant and a USA immigrant all at the same time.
Give the little lady a hand.

Zeus

Mon, 2012-08-06 09:59 — RickLL (not verified)

It was John Lydon tearing her apart on Question Time recently that must have finally finished her off.

Mon, 2012-08-06 09:53 — AAMVN (not verified)

Here's hoping Labour wins it and it's one less of the Pirate Cameron's crew...

I do think it does highlight how anti family life a political career is, and while kids can often manage with a father who is 'busy doing important work' it is naturally harder for a mother to be absent so much especially during the gruelling back bench years when franky they could just vote by SMS or 'standing order' anyway.

So - wishing Louise Mensch well, she did the right thing for all kinds of reasons.

Mon, 2012-08-06 11:36 — Dark Heart of Toryland (not verified)

I would have more sympathy for her if she wasn't a prominent member of a party which is bent on destroying employees' rights. It will very much harder for people to achieve a decent work/life balance if Tory MPs like Mensch have their way.

Mon, 2012-08-06 10:41 — bbbbbbb (not verified)

Erm? Exactly why is it "naturally harder for a mother to be absent"?

Tue, 2012-08-07 04:06 — AAMVN (not verified)

Women are biologically closer to their children and vice-versa than men. It doesn't mean men can't and shouldn't be closer and women less tied to the domestic role - much of which is due to societal stereotyping.

But the biology is real and so is the social pressure. In Ms Mensch's case she doesn't seem to have a househusband so it looks like it's nannies and childcare and all that. Not ideal.

Tue, 2012-08-07 08:41 — bbbbbbb (not verified)

Precisely "societal stereotyping", ergo b*ll*cks