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| Geoff Hoon to stand down as an MP | Geoff Hoon to stand down as an MP |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is to stand down as an MP at the general election, he has announced. | Former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is to stand down as an MP at the general election, he has announced. |
| The Labour MP, who tried to organise a vote on Gordon Brown's leadership last month, also served as the party's chief whip and transport secretary. | The Labour MP, who tried to organise a vote on Gordon Brown's leadership last month, also served as the party's chief whip and transport secretary. |
| He had been facing calls for de-selection by his local party in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. | He had been facing calls for de-selection by his local party in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. |
| Mr Hoon, a Cambridge-educated former lawyer and lecturer, has been an MP since 1992. | Mr Hoon, a Cambridge-educated former lawyer and lecturer, has been an MP since 1992. |
| Some Labour activists in Mr Hoon's constituency are said to be angry about a letter sent by him and former Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt to Labour MPs last month urging them to hold a secret ballot on Mr Brown's future. | Some Labour activists in Mr Hoon's constituency are said to be angry about a letter sent by him and former Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt to Labour MPs last month urging them to hold a secret ballot on Mr Brown's future. |
| 'Storm in a teacup' | 'Storm in a teacup' |
| It said the party was "deeply divided over the question of the leadership" and that continued "uncertainty" was "damaging our ability to set out our strong case to the electorate". | It said the party was "deeply divided over the question of the leadership" and that continued "uncertainty" was "damaging our ability to set out our strong case to the electorate". |
| Some Labour members regarded the demand for a ballot, which failed to win backing from any current minister, as disloyal. | Some Labour members regarded the demand for a ballot, which failed to win backing from any current minister, as disloyal. |
| But, at a party meeting last month, Mr Hoon said he was remaining as Ashfield's candidate for the next election, which is expected to take place on 6 May. | But, at a party meeting last month, Mr Hoon said he was remaining as Ashfield's candidate for the next election, which is expected to take place on 6 May. |
| Mr Brown dismissed the letter - described by some as an attempted "coup" - as a "storm in a teacup". | Mr Brown dismissed the letter - described by some as an attempted "coup" - as a "storm in a teacup". |
| Mr Hoon left the cabinet last summer in a reshuffle triggered by the resignation of a number of ministers. | Mr Hoon left the cabinet last summer in a reshuffle triggered by the resignation of a number of ministers. |
| A spokeswoman for Ashfield Labour Party said letters were being sent out to members to inform them of his decision to leave Parliament. |