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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Sarwar plans to stand down as MP | Sarwar plans to stand down as MP |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Mohammed Sarwar, the 54-year-old Labour MP for Glasgow Central, has announced he is to stand down from Westminster at the next General Election. | Mohammed Sarwar, the 54-year-old Labour MP for Glasgow Central, has announced he is to stand down from Westminster at the next General Election. |
| The father-of-four was elected as the MP for the former Govan seat in 1997 and was Britain's first Muslim MP. | The father-of-four was elected as the MP for the former Govan seat in 1997 and was Britain's first Muslim MP. |
| Mr Sarwar told BBC Scotland he felt it was time to move on and focus more of his energies on his charity work. | Mr Sarwar told BBC Scotland he felt it was time to move on and focus more of his energies on his charity work. |
| He said the decision had nothing to do with political pressure or his son's conviction for money laundering. | |
| Cash and carry managing director Athif Sarwar, 28, was convicted for an £850,000 money laundering scam in May. | |
| He had handled thousands of pounds of money described as "criminal property". | |
| I told the Labour Party before the Scottish Parliament elections that I would not be seeking re-selection Mohammed Sarwar MP | |
| But Mr Sarwar said his decision was influenced by other factors. He said: "This is my third term in the House of Commons. | |
| "I was a councillor before I was an MP. I thought the time was now right to move on. | |
| "I am heavily involved in charity work across the world and I want to help people in desperate need in education and health. | |
| "I am also a grandfather now and I would like to have more time with my grandchildren. I also have elderly parents and I want to give more time to them." | |
| He added: "(His son's conviction) has no bearing whatsoever on my decision. I told the Labour Party before the Scottish Parliament elections that I would not be seeking re-selection." | |
| Mr Sarwar, a retail millionaire, also promised to keep working to improve his local community even when he is no longer serving as the area's MP. | Mr Sarwar, a retail millionaire, also promised to keep working to improve his local community even when he is no longer serving as the area's MP. |
| Mr Sarwar also discussed his role in helping to negotiate the transfer of the killers of Kriss Donald from Pakistan to Scotland. | |
| Controversy | Controversy |
| He said: "I think it was a brutal and vicious murder and it sent a message to all those who seek to commit crimes and then flee from justice. | |
| "I am glad I was able to bring back the murderers of Kriss Donald with the support of Strathclyde Police who did wonderful job of bringing them back to face justice." | |
| Mr Sarwar also said that Gordon Brown would be an "excellent" prime minister. | |
| The MP is planning to concentrate on charity projects in Scotland and his native Pakistan. | The MP is planning to concentrate on charity projects in Scotland and his native Pakistan. |
| His political career has, however, been dogged by controversy since he won a bitter selection battle against Mike Watson, the former MP for Glasgow Central. | His political career has, however, been dogged by controversy since he won a bitter selection battle against Mike Watson, the former MP for Glasgow Central. |
| Soon after his election, he was suspended from the parliamentary Labour party over allegations of bribing political opponents, and stood trial for fraud. | Soon after his election, he was suspended from the parliamentary Labour party over allegations of bribing political opponents, and stood trial for fraud. |
| He was acquitted in March 1999 and restored to the parliamentary Labour Party. | |
| He has concentrated on constituency issues, and has become one of the leading Commons advocates of the Scottish ship-building industry. | He has concentrated on constituency issues, and has become one of the leading Commons advocates of the Scottish ship-building industry. |