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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Jack Straw to step down as Labour MP for Blackburn | Jack Straw to step down as Labour MP for Blackburn |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Jack Straw is to stand down as MP for Blackburn at the next general election. | Jack Straw is to stand down as MP for Blackburn at the next general election. |
| 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 7 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." |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband paid tribute to Mr Straw's "eloquence and wisdom", and former Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was a "true Labour giant". | |
| 'Terrible wrench' | 'Terrible wrench' |
| Mr Straw said: "Whatever national position I have held, the citizens of this town, and their children, have always been my first priority. | Mr Straw 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 had made the decision to stand down after a great deal of thought and consultation with friends and family. | But he said he had made the decision to stand down after a great deal of thought and consultation with friends and family. |
| He added he "couldn't go on forever" and it would be "a terrible wrench" to stand down. | He added he "couldn't go on forever" and it would be "a terrible wrench" to stand down. |
| Mr Straw held the positions of home secretary, foreign secretary and leader of the House of Commons under Mr Blair. | |
| Mr Blair said Parliament would "lose one of the most able politicians of my generation" in 2015. | |
| He said: "Jack Straw is a true Labour giant. | |
| "I was lucky enough to have him in Cabinet throughout my time as prime minister, where he put his brilliant mind to work on two of the most challenging briefs: home and foreign affairs. | |
| "Jack's contribution to law and order in Britain and this country's standing in the world is quite simply formidable." | |
| In June 2007, Mr Straw was made justice secretary by Gordon Brown, 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. | 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. | "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 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." | "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. | 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. |