Colne Valley MP Kali off work for months due to illness

Nov 10 2008 By Joanne Douglas

DOCTORS have ordered Colne Valley MP Kali Mountford to take time off work because of illness.

Ms Mountford’s husband and office manager Ian Leedham revealed yesterday (Sunday) that she will be off work for months.

He said: "Kali will be on very, very reduced duties for the next three to six months. I don’t want to say too much about her condition because we think it’s a private matter. It’s not a fatal condition."

Ms Mountford said yesterday (Sunday) doctors had told her to take time off.

The Labour MP said: "I have for some time been unwell and been under the care of consultants in both Huddersfield and Leeds. I have been told to take time off so that I can undergo some intensive treatment .

"I hoped that I would be able to carry on working during this treatment but the doctors have said that this would not be possible.

"Obviously I am very upset that I cannot attend the House of Commons every week for the time being, and that I will have to cut back drastically on constituency work. I have made arrangements both with the Chief Whip and with my constituency office for my work to be covered and much of the day-to-day correspondence and the work representing constituents will carry on."