Salter's going to a land Down Under...

Ali Powell • Published 27 Mar 2010 18:00 0 Comments

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READING West MP Martin Salter cannot wait for May 6.

He is convinced that will be Election Day and he needs to book a flight to Australia as soon as possible afterwards.

With his political career coming to an end, he will help with Labour's campaign and then leave the country, admitting: "Whoever wins, they don't need me hanging around like Banquo's ghost. They have to do it their way."

He told The Chronicle: "I am confidently expecting an election on May 6 with an announcement shortly after Easter."

Mr Salter began as a Reading borough councillor 26 years ago, and in May 1997 became MP for Reading West. He said: "Everybody is asking me what happens next all the time. My constituents have been absolutely fantastic. I have had about 400 letters and emails saying 'thank you' or 'don't go', including someone who wanted to start a petition.

"It makes me feel incredibly grateful, but I want my life back now. My relationship with my constituents has really been quite intense and many have become more friends than voters."

He said: "It has been a huge privilege being MP for Reading West. There are people who come to me in real desperate straits who need you to be there for them, who you have to go the extra mile for.

"I'm going to miss the big occasions in Parliament. I'll never forget the day I heard three of the greatest orators, Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela and Tony Blair.

"I'll no longer be able to influence national events, I'll miss the forum but more than anything I'll miss the people. I've met some impressive, incredible people."

Wife Natalie is working in consumer affairs in Australia until early next year and the couple have rented a flat overlooking Sydney Harbour. Mr Salter added: "My wife has never known me as anything other than deputy leader of Reading council or MP. It's time we started doing more together.

"It will take me a while to stop being MP, it's a bit like getting off a conveyor belt. I want to carry on writing, for the Telegraph and some fishing articles. I think I've got a book in me but I'm not ready to write it yet. I'm going to get myself a little boat and tour Sydney Harbour, go fishing, and I'm hoping to do a bit of political strategy work to help my colleagues in Australia.

"I'm hoping to get tickets for the fifth Ashes test next January and then Natalie and I are hiring a camper van and travelling round New Zealand."

Mr Salter plans to use his skills acquired in politics to campaign in areas including young people and the environment. His biggest personal and political achievement, he says, was bucking public opinion and supporting the building of Reading's Prospect Park Hospital. He said: "Mental health is the Cinderella service. It's very easy to become everyone's sweetheart by agreeing with them, but we needed a new mental health hospital. I chose to go against public opinion and say we'll deal with those concerns and challenge the critics. I'm proud that I led the public opinion."

He added: "When I come back I will be looking to do a bit of work in these policy areas, carry on my writing and I'm planning to take a teaching qualification. I want to talk to young people about the importance of political engagement."

He said: "My mentor was a ganger on a building site where I worked years ago. He was in his 50s then, like I am now, and said to me `don't get to my age and look back and say if only'. I've a chance for an adventure and this is the right time to do it."

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