Hazel Blears MP announces she's stepping down

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Hazel Blears has represented Salford constituency since 1997 Credit: PA

Hazel Blears has announced that she is standing down as Labour MP for Salford and Eccles at the next General Election.

She's represented the Salford constituency since 1997.

In a statement she said she is stepping down after what will have been 18 years in the role with ‘a heavy heart’.

Mrs Blears said she wants to spend more time with her family, including her mum Dorothy, who has dementia, her dad Arthur, who is his wife’s main carer, and her husband Michael.

She informed her local constituency Labour Party of her decision at its monthly meeting.

Colleagues have taken to social media to pay tributes to the long serving MP.

Her time as an MP hasn't been without controversy. When details of MPs' expense claims were leaked in 2009, Ms Blears was criticised for not paying capital gains tax on the sale of a flat which she had previously designated her second home. She repaid more than £13,000 and apologised.