LATEST: MP Chaytor to stand down at next election

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The backbencher has already been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party pending a "star chamber" inquiry into his claims.

Today he said he would not seek re-election for Bury North after discussions with colleagues, local party figures and senior Labour officials at the weekend.

He said that, for the coming months, his "priority must be to explain my errors following allegations over the use of parliamentary allowances".

"This will be time-consuming and stressful," he went on. "I have referred my case to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and will co-operate fully with his inquiry."

Mr Chaytor, an MP since 1997, already faced being de-selected as a Labour candidate after it emerged he claimed almost £13,000 on a non-existent mortgage.

He is to pay back the sum after continuing to submit £1,175 monthly bills for months after the loan was paid off.

In a statement on Tuesday morning, he said he would continue his constituency and Parliamentary work "conscientiously and to the best of my ability" but would not be able to commit to campaigning during this period.

"Therefore, it is only fair to my constituents, to my party and to my family that we quickly start the process of selecting a new candidate to fight for Labour in Bury North.

"I do not want my self-inflicted problems to be a distraction to my party's campaign as we move towards the General Election."

A Labour Party spokesman said: "We can confirm that the general secretary of the Labour Party has received a statement from David Chaytor detailing his intention to stand down as the MP for Bury North at the next General Election.

"The general secretary will inform the Special NEC Endorsements Panel of this decision.

"The panel is currently in the process of gathering evidence from all parties concerned in the cases that have been referred to it and the Labour Party will make a further announcement when it has come to its conclusions.

"The local Labour Party will now choose a new prospective parliamentary candidate for Bury North and the general secretary will welcome the quick selection of a candidate who will join Bury's hard-working Labour councillors and party members in their work for the town and for local people."