Nottingham Labour MP John Heppell steps down

Labour MP John Heppell has announced he will step down at the general election to help his wife fight cancer.

The Nottingham East MP, who has represented the constituency since 1992, made his decision just weeks before the forthcoming election.

Mr Heppell, 61, said he needed to help his wife Eileen through treatment for breast cancer.

He will hand in his notice at a party meeting later. He had a majority of 6,939 in the 2005 election.

Mr Heppell said: "I can confirm I am stepping down because my wife is ill.

"The prognosis is good but it's a lengthy period of treatment."