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Labour's Tristram Hunt quitting as MP to head V&A Museum Labour's Tristram Hunt quitting as MP to head V&A Museum
(about 1 hour later)
Labour MP Tristram Hunt is quitting as an MP to become the director of London's Victoria and Albert Museum, triggering a by-election.Labour MP Tristram Hunt is quitting as an MP to become the director of London's Victoria and Albert Museum, triggering a by-election.
Mr Hunt, a critic of Jeremy Corbyn, said he did not want to "rock the boat" but had the chance "to have one of the greatest museum jobs in the world".Mr Hunt, a critic of Jeremy Corbyn, said he did not want to "rock the boat" but had the chance "to have one of the greatest museum jobs in the world".
His Stoke-on-Trent Central seat is set to be abolished under boundary changes.His Stoke-on-Trent Central seat is set to be abolished under boundary changes.
Mr Hunt told local party members he had been frustrated about how Labour should respond to political shockwaves. Labour leader Mr Corbyn said he wished him well and was confident Labour would hold the seat.
In a letter to them explaining his decision, he said being an MP had been "both deeply rewarding and intensely frustrating". Asked if he was secretly pleased that an MP who has been critical of his leadership was going, Mr Corbyn said: "No, I don't want anyone to resign, I don't want to lose MPs but he has taken this position as director of the V&A, good luck to him."
'Plain wrong' 'Frustration'
He said he was confident of winning the by-election: "It's been a Labour seat for a long time, we have a strong message to put out .. I'm looking forward to the campaign."
In a letter to local party members explaining his decision, Mr Hunt said being an MP had been "both deeply rewarding and intensely frustrating".
Highlighting the "harrowing effects of poverty and inequality upon social mobility", he said: " The frustration, of course, came with the inability to address those factors and implement our policy programme following our defeat in 2015 - and, more broadly, about how the Labour Party should respond to the social, cultural and economic forces which have rocked mainstream social democratic and socialist parties from India to Greece to America."Highlighting the "harrowing effects of poverty and inequality upon social mobility", he said: " The frustration, of course, came with the inability to address those factors and implement our policy programme following our defeat in 2015 - and, more broadly, about how the Labour Party should respond to the social, cultural and economic forces which have rocked mainstream social democratic and socialist parties from India to Greece to America."
He added: "I am sorry to put you, the party and the people of Stoke-on-Trent, through a by-election. I have no desire to rock the boat now and anyone who interprets my decision to leave in that way is just plain wrong."He added: "I am sorry to put you, the party and the people of Stoke-on-Trent, through a by-election. I have no desire to rock the boat now and anyone who interprets my decision to leave in that way is just plain wrong."
The former TV historian was elected to represent Stoke-on-Trent in 2010 and was re-elected in 2015 with a majority of 5,179. UKIP came second.The former TV historian was elected to represent Stoke-on-Trent in 2010 and was re-elected in 2015 with a majority of 5,179. UKIP came second.
He refused to serve in the shadow cabinet following Mr Corbyn's leadership victory in September 2015. He also argued that the Labour leader should have done more to persuade its voters to back the Remain campaign during last year's EU referendum.He refused to serve in the shadow cabinet following Mr Corbyn's leadership victory in September 2015. He also argued that the Labour leader should have done more to persuade its voters to back the Remain campaign during last year's EU referendum.
AnalysisAnalysis
By Ben Wright, BBC political correspondentBy Ben Wright, BBC political correspondent
Tristram Hunt's resignation follows that of Jamie Reed last month - another Labour MP who had been critical of the party's shift to the left - and it leaves Mr Corbyn facing another difficult by-election that UKIP will be fighting to win.Tristram Hunt's resignation follows that of Jamie Reed last month - another Labour MP who had been critical of the party's shift to the left - and it leaves Mr Corbyn facing another difficult by-election that UKIP will be fighting to win.
I don't think Jeremy Corbyn will mind in the slightest that Tristram Hunt has gone. But Mr Corbyn's critics in Parliament face a dilemma: to follow Tristram Hunt out of politics or to stay and fight for a party they believe is in deep trouble.I don't think Jeremy Corbyn will mind in the slightest that Tristram Hunt has gone. But Mr Corbyn's critics in Parliament face a dilemma: to follow Tristram Hunt out of politics or to stay and fight for a party they believe is in deep trouble.
Read moreRead more
The V&A said Mr Hunt would bring "widespread expertise" to the museum.The V&A said Mr Hunt would bring "widespread expertise" to the museum.
Chairman Nicholas Coleridge said: "He has a highly compelling mixture of experience across public life, the arts, history, education and academia, and knows our collections well from his writing and broadcasting. "Chairman Nicholas Coleridge said: "He has a highly compelling mixture of experience across public life, the arts, history, education and academia, and knows our collections well from his writing and broadcasting. "
"In addition, he is an informed and articulate leader and communicator on numerous facets of culture, both historic and contemporary.""In addition, he is an informed and articulate leader and communicator on numerous facets of culture, both historic and contemporary."
A spokesman for Labour leader Mr Corbyn thanked Mr Hunt "for his service to the people of Stoke-on-Trent Central and to the Labour Party" adding: "Jeremy wishes him well in his future pursuits at the V&A."
But former UKIP leader Nigel Farage tweeted: "Tristram Hunt's resignation from Stoke will be followed by many others. Labour is doomed."
Mr Hunt is the second Labour MP in a matter of weeks to quit Parliament for a job outside politics. Jamie Reed announced last month he was standing down as MP for Copeland to take up a post at the Sellafield nuclear plant.Mr Hunt is the second Labour MP in a matter of weeks to quit Parliament for a job outside politics. Jamie Reed announced last month he was standing down as MP for Copeland to take up a post at the Sellafield nuclear plant.
Mr Hunt's departure sets up another potentially awkward by-election for Mr Corbyn, in a traditionally safe Labour seat where UKIP made a strong showing in the last general election.Mr Hunt's departure sets up another potentially awkward by-election for Mr Corbyn, in a traditionally safe Labour seat where UKIP made a strong showing in the last general election.
Tony Blair's former communications chief, Alastair Campbell, wrote on Twitter: "Big loss. So many MPs fear Labour going nowhere under Jeremy Corbyn". Labour grandee Lord Mandelson said he believed Mr Hunt quit politics because he was "unhappy", like "many other MPs" over Labour's electoral chances.
"The prospects of us winning a national general election will remain distant the longer Jeremy Corbyn and his ramshackle outfit remain in charge of the party's fortunes," he told the BBC's Week in Westminster.
Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said he was "disappointed to see a talented MP like Tristram step down".Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said he was "disappointed to see a talented MP like Tristram step down".
London's Labour mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted: "Huge loss for Parliament & politics but a win for culture in London."
Conservative former chancellor George Osborne commented: "@TristramHuntMP is a brilliant, bold choice by @V_and_A. I suspect it'll be a while before we see another Labour MP called Tristram."Conservative former chancellor George Osborne commented: "@TristramHuntMP is a brilliant, bold choice by @V_and_A. I suspect it'll be a while before we see another Labour MP called Tristram."
Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage tweeted: "Tristram Hunt's resignation from Stoke will be followed by many others. Labour is doomed."
Liberal Democrat president Baroness Brinton said Mr Hunt's resignation was "a sign of how Labour are ripping themselves apart". "What is worrying is when first Jamie Reed and now Tristram Hunt decide they can achieve more positive change outside, rather than inside Parliament," she said.Liberal Democrat president Baroness Brinton said Mr Hunt's resignation was "a sign of how Labour are ripping themselves apart". "What is worrying is when first Jamie Reed and now Tristram Hunt decide they can achieve more positive change outside, rather than inside Parliament," she said.
Mr Hunt, whose V&A appointment was signed off by Prime Minister Theresa May and Culture Secretary Karen Bradley, has spoken about his love for the museum. He told The Guardian newspaper in 2011 he believed charges should be reintroduced for entrance to museums and galleries. Mr Hunt, whose V&A appointment was signed off by Prime Minister Theresa May and Culture Secretary Karen Bradley, succeeds Martin Roth, who saw attendances triple during his five-year period in charge. One of Mr Hunt's first tasks will be overseeing the development of V&A outposts in places such as Dundee.
He succeeds Martin Roth, who saw attendances triple during his five-year period in charge. One of his first tasks will be overseeing the development of V&A outposts in places such as Dundee.
Mr Roth earned a salary of £145,000-£150,000 as part of a total package worth £225,000-£230,000 in 2015/16 - well above Mr Hunt's current salary of £74,962 as an MP.Mr Roth earned a salary of £145,000-£150,000 as part of a total package worth £225,000-£230,000 in 2015/16 - well above Mr Hunt's current salary of £74,962 as an MP.