Former New Democrat stalwart Svend Robinson says he is strongly considering a return to federal politics as his former party is facing challenging times. The 66-year-old represented the Vancouver-area riding of Burnaby for 25 years, but left politics in 2004 after he admitted stealing a diamond ring from an auction, saying he was under too much strain at the time. If he decides to run, Robinson said he would seek election in Burnaby North-Seymour and hopefully help out the N-D-P candidate in the next riding — N-D-P Leader Jagmeet Singh, who is expected to face a byelection in Burnaby South in February. Liberal Terry Beech is running again in Burnaby North-Seymour, which is set to become a battleground riding next year over Liberal pledges to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline.