Dennis Turner to stand down

Dennis Turner, the Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East, has announced that he will be standing down at the next election.

His shock decision to step down has left a safe seat open for Downing Street aide Pat McFadden.

Mr Turner had a 12,000 majority in 2001.

On the left of the Labour Party Mr Turner was well-known in parliament. Elected in 1987 he served widely on select committees in the 1980s and 1990s. He was an opposition whip for Labour between 1992 and 1997 but has never held ministerial office, although he was PPS to former International Development Secretary Clare Short.