Labour's Joan Humble to step down as Blackpool North MP

Joan Humble's constituency will change at the next election

Lancashire Labour MP Joan Humble has announced she is to stand down at the forthcoming general election.

Mrs Humble has represented Blackpool North and Fleetwood since the 1997 Labour landslide, when she overturned the sitting Tory MP's 8,000 majority.

The constituency's boundaries will change at the next polling day to Blackpool North and Cleveleys.

In a statement, the backbencher said she planned to spend more time with her husband Paul and her family.

'Tireless campaigner'

She said: "I have reached this decision after careful thought. My husband Paul is very close to retirement and we naturally wish to spend more time together in retirement.

"I would also like to devote much more time to my parents, who live in Yorkshire and have turned 80."

Mrs Humble was a county councillor in Lancashire before becoming an MP.

She said local people had given her "wonderful" support.

The constituency's Labour Party chairman Jack Croysdill said Mrs Humble was an "an excellent hard working MP for the Fylde Coast fighting hard to secure the much needed regeneration for Blackpool and Cleveleys".

He said she would be "remembered with affection as a tireless campaigner for citizens' rights".

Last week Peter Kilfoyle, Labour MP for Liverpool Walton, announced he would be stepping down.

Former Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell has also announced that he is quitting Parliament, with former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon doing the same earlier this month.