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Jack Straw to step down as Labour MP for Blackburn Jack Straw to step down as Labour MP for Blackburn
(35 minutes later)
Jack Straw is to stand down as Labour MP for Blackburn at the next general election, he has announced. Jack Straw is to stand down as MP for Blackburn at the next general election.
Mr Straw, 67, was elected in 1979 and has stood in eight general elections in the Lancashire constituency. The former Labour home and foreign secretary 67, was elected in Blackburn in 1979 and has stood in eight general elections in the constituency.
He said his "love affair" with the town was "not going to end on 7th May 2015, nor is my connection with it." He said his "love affair" with the town was "not going to end on 7 May 2015, nor is my connection with it."
But he said he had made the decision to stand down after a great deal of thought and consultation with friends and family. Labour leader Ed Miliband paid tribute to Mr Straw's "eloquence and wisdom" and said he "will continue to serve our country in many different ways".
'Terrible wrench''Terrible wrench'
He said: "Whatever national position I have held, the citizens of this town, and their children, have always been my first priority.He said: "Whatever national position I have held, the citizens of this town, and their children, have always been my first priority.
"I am deeply grateful to everyone in the town for the faith which has been placed in me.""I am deeply grateful to everyone in the town for the faith which has been placed in me."
But he said he "couldn't go on forever" and it would be "a terrible wrench" to stand down. But he said he had made the decision to stand down after a great deal of thought and consultation with friends and family.
Mr Straw practised as a criminal barrister before entering the Commons and was an adviser to Labour minister Barbara Castle, his predecessor as Blackburn MP. He added he "couldn't go on forever" and it would be "a terrible wrench" to stand down.
He held the positions of home secretary, foreign secretary and leader of the House of Commons under Tony Blair. Mr Straw held the positions of home secretary, foreign secretary and leader of the House of Commons under Tony Blair.
Gordon Brown made him justice secretary in June 2007, a position he held until Labour's defeat at the 2010 election.Gordon Brown made him justice secretary in June 2007, a position he held until Labour's defeat at the 2010 election.
Mr Miliband said: "Jack Straw will be greatly missed from the House of Commons.
"On behalf of the Labour Party, I want to thank him for his nearly 35 years service as an MP, his achievements in government and his eloquence and wisdom.
"He is Labour through and through, and always displayed this in his words and deeds.
"He will be sorely missed but I know he will continue to serve our country in many different ways."
Mr Straw practised as a criminal barrister before entering the Commons and was an adviser to Labour minister Barbara Castle, his predecessor as Blackburn MP.