The news this afternoon that Sir Richard Shepherd is to stand down at the next election (as reported in the Express and Star), creates a Conservative candidate vacancy in the West Midlands seat of Aldridge-Brownhills with a very attractive 15,266 majority (39.5% majority).
Sir Richard is the 31st Conservative MP not re-standing in General Election 2015 and means that 75 current MPs are not seeking re-election.