Tory MP Steve Brine has announced he is standing down at the next election. In a letter to his local association, Brine said it was time for a “new chapter” in his life after serving as MP for Winchester and Chandler’s Ford since 2010. Being found to have broken lobbying rules earlier this year might’ve clarified his thinking too…

Brine said today:

“When I first entered Parliament I had in my mind to serve for twenty years – or four General Elections – whichever came first. This wasn’t a hard and fast rule, and I don’t think anyone could have predicted the events of the past thirteen years, but it feels like the right time now, for both myself and the family. Going forward, I feel I can pursue some of the issues I care about – in health and perhaps elsewhere – outside Parliament as well as within.

During my time as our MP, Susie and I have had two wonderful children and I’ve put my heart and soul into doing the job. My team and I have done tens of thousands of pieces of casework to-date and that quietly remains the bedrock of my work for the people I represent. But that has all come at a price; being away several nights every week, working at pace across this vast constituency when I am home plus every weekend and just the sheer intensity of this role in the modern age.

We always think our children need us most when they’re little, and that is of course true in the most basic caring sense, but I’ve learnt they need us more as they get older. I hope, in time, to be around a little more; both for them but also for Susie who has supported me every step of the way and without whom I could never have done any of this.”

According to UK Polling Report, he was on track to lose to the LibDems…

He’s the forty-second Tory to throw in the towel at the next election… not to mention the four upcoming by-elections.

Either Steve Brine MP donned a shiny new tinfoil hat last night as he headed home, or he has no idea what chemtrails* actually means. Here’s what he shared to Facebook yesterday evening…

They walk among us…

*”Chemtrails” refers to a conspiracy theory. The idea is those lingering contrails contain some sort of mind-altering biological agent to control the population or promote a new world order. Are you confused, Steve?

Health Select Committee Chair Steve Brine is under investigation by the Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg over allegations of lobbying and corruption exposed in the Telegraph’s Lockdown Files. The probe will look into alleged breaches of “paid advocacy” and “declaration of an interest” rules, after WhatsApp messages revealed Brine had been “trying for months” to lobby the head of NHS England despite a ban on MPs lobbying for any firm within six months of receiving a reward. If Greenberg finds Brine has broken the rules, the case goes to a committee of MPs to determine the sanction. Which could lead to a Commons suspension… and a by-election.

Health Select Committee Chair Steve Brine is feeling the heat on all sides following the cash-for-lobbying allegations exposed in the Telegraph’s Lockdown Files. Having already faced calls to stand down from fellow MPs, Brine has also been referred to the Parliamentary sleaze commissioner Daniel Greenberg by Anneliese Dodds. If Greenberg decides to investigate the complaint – which seems likely – and finds Brine has broken lobbying rules, the case goes to a committee of MPs to determine the sanction. Which could include a Commons suspension, triggering a by-election…

His future was not looking rosy even before this scandal blew up. Polling Report is forecasting that the LibDems will take his seat at the next general election:

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACoBA) are also investigating Brine’s conduct, with a spokesperson saying they are “looking into” the fresh allegations for any foul play. ACoBA’s rulings are only advisory, so whatever they decide is obviously of less immediate consequence. Although it certainly doesn’t help Brine’s cause…

The Lockdown Files could soon claim their first scalp. Conservative MP and chairman of the Health Select Committee Steve Brine is facing calls to stand down from the role after the Telegraph revealed he had lobbied the government for cash during the pandemic. In February 2021, Brine approached Michael Gove and an adviser in the Department of Health to convince the NHS to hire anaesthetists from Remedium. A firm paying him £1,600 per month.

Brine claimed he had been “trying for months” to secure taxpayer cash for Remedium’s business. This could fall foul of two separate sets of rules – one which prohibits ex-ministers from using their contacts for two years after they leave government, and another which bans MPs from lobbying for any firm within six months of receiving a reward. This isn’t even Brine’s first lobbying charge. He was previously investigated for rule breaking after trying to convince Hancock to hire Remedium staff for Nightingale Hospitals. The only reason he was cleared was that he didn’t pay VAT…

In response, Brine has faced calls to resign his committee chairmanship from across the political divide – Stephen Dorrell, a former Health Minister under John Major, told Sky News Brine should “consider his position”. Guido thinks so too…

“I think he has the potential to be a fantastic Prime Minister…”