Teddy Taylor to quit Commons

Arch-Eurosceptic MP Sir Teddy Taylor is to retire at the next general election.

The Conservative MP for Rochford and Southend East, who has been in the Commons for 39 of the past 40 years, said he did not want to " overstay his welcome" in Southend where he won a by-election in 1980.

Sir Teddy, 66, said: "The party seems to be in safe hands now, and after 40 years I haven't yet worked out what I will do afterwards but I'm sure I will find some crusade." The Scottish-born MP said his decision was not related to an attack two weeks ago in Southend which left him with a gashed lip and severe bruising.

"When you're in public life you have to accept that kind of thing can happen," he said. Scottish Office minister after Ted Heath's surprise victory in the 1970 election he resigned over Heath's attempts to join the EEC but his opposition to Europe has been a touchstone of his politics ever since. After his party's defeat in 1997, his profile receded.

However, he did fall victim to an Ali G stunt in which he warned the comic he might no longer be able to buy hard porn in Amsterdam if European integration went any further. "That was very embarrassing indeed," Sir Teddy said.