'Bionic MP' Craig Mackinlay says he won't contest his seat at general election
Craig Mackinlay, the "bionic MP" whose hands and feet were amputated due to sepsis, has announced he will not contest his seat at the general election.
The Conservative MP for South Thanet said after "much soul-searching" he has decided to prioritise his recovery.
Mr Mackinlay only returned to parliament a few days ago after "eight months of hell" and said he wanted to stay on in the job to raise awareness about sepsis and inspire younger people.
But just hours after he was greeted with a standing ovation by colleagues, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a general election.
In a post on Facebook, Mr Mackinlay wrote: "The snap election announcement has caused me 36 hrs of intense soul searching.
"Whilst my heart tells me to stand again, there being so much unfinished business across local regeneration and national issues which are important to me, my head knows this to be impossible at this time.
"It would be difficult to withstand the rigours of an all-out election campaign, a campaign that I'd always wish to lead from the front. Thereafter, upon being re-elected it would be difficult for me to sustain 70 to 80 hour working weeks which were the norm prior to my illness."
On his return to parliament, Mr Mackinlay said he wanted to be known as the "bionic MP" to visiting children after being fitted with prosthetic hands and legs.
General election latest - follow live
He said he was determined to fight the next general election to continue to serve his Kent constituency and wanted to campaign to raise awareness of sepsis.
His return to parliament came just eight months after being rushed to hospital with sepsis then placed in an induced coma and given a 5% chance of survival.
In his post on Facebook, the father-of-one said he had hoped to phase his return over time, saying his life revolves around medical appointments since leaving in-patient rehabilitation.
He added: "I face numerous future operations as a result of the serious sepsis that I suffered which very nearly took my life.
"I have only just started the prosthetic journey and I have weekly physiotherapy and occupational therapy sessions.
"I had the most memorable appearance of my time as an MP at this week's PMQs: it was emotional and the experience quite surreal. I shall never forget it. I had expected it to be the start of my return. It will, however, be remembered as my last hurrah."
He added: "I will now campaign to raise awareness for, and particularly the early recognition of, the onset of sepsis.
"If this results in the saving of one life or the prevention of the type of disablement that I have suffered it will be a worthwhile campaign. I will also do all that I can to ensure that multiple limb loss amputees get the right prosthetics at the right time to ensure that lives can return to as close to normality as possible.
"To be elected to the House of Commons is a rare privilege of life."
