This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30277709

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Gordon Brown 'to announce he will stand down as MP' Gordon Brown 'to announce he will stand down as MP'
(about 1 hour later)
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown will announce later that he will stand down as an MP at the next general election, the BBC understands.Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown will announce later that he will stand down as an MP at the next general election, the BBC understands.
The Labour MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath has been in Parliament for nearly 32 years.The Labour MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath has been in Parliament for nearly 32 years.
He served from 1997 to 2007 as chancellor, in Tony Blair's government.He served from 1997 to 2007 as chancellor, in Tony Blair's government.
Mr Brown was then prime minister from 2007 to 2010, when Labour was defeated, recording its worst general election result since 1983.Mr Brown was then prime minister from 2007 to 2010, when Labour was defeated, recording its worst general election result since 1983.
The 63-year-old recently played a leading role in the campaign against Scottish independence. The 63-year-old has kept a generally low profile after leaving office, making an intervention in a debate on the phone-hacking scandal and later entering the Scottish independence campaign.
Charity workCharity work
Mr Brown, who first entered Parliament in 1983, is expected to confirm his intentions in a speech to his constituency Labour Party later on Monday.Mr Brown, who first entered Parliament in 1983, is expected to confirm his intentions in a speech to his constituency Labour Party later on Monday.
The BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith said it was "not a huge surprise", with Mr Brown having been a "relatively infrequent visitor to Westminster" since the 2010 general election.The BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith said it was "not a huge surprise", with Mr Brown having been a "relatively infrequent visitor to Westminster" since the 2010 general election.
Since resigning as prime minister and Labour leader, Mr Brown has focused on charity work and his role as United Nations special envoy for global education.Since resigning as prime minister and Labour leader, Mr Brown has focused on charity work and his role as United Nations special envoy for global education.
During the Scottish independence referendum campaign, he set out a timetable for boosting the Scottish Parliament's powers if voters rejected independence, which was backed by the leaders of the three main pro-Union parties. He returned to the political spotlight during the latter stages of the Scottish independence referendum campaign with the result in the balance, helping to secure the vote against independence
A key part of his role was setting out a timetable for boosting the Scottish Parliament's powers if voters rejected independence, a timetable which was backed by the leaders of the three main pro-Union parties.
Supporters urged him to contest the leadership of the Scottish Labour Party but he declined, saying he did not want to return to frontline politics.
He held his seat with a majority of 23,000 at the last election.He held his seat with a majority of 23,000 at the last election.
'Low profile' As chancellor Mr Brown oversaw a decade of growth, made the Bank of England independent and played a key role in keeping the UK out of the euro.
Mr Brown, who as chancellor made the Bank of England independent and kept the UK out of the euro, took over as prime minister from Mr Blair without a contest in 2007, and decided against calling a snap election that autumn. He took over as prime minister from Mr Blair without a contest in 2007 but his premiership, which suffered when he decided at the last minute against calling a snap election that autumn, was dominated by the financial crisis and bank bailouts as the UK slipped into recession with a soaring deficit.
His premiership was marked by the financial crisis and bank bailouts as the UK slipped into recession. He saw off frequent rumours of challenges to his leadership by fellow Labour MPs, but his popularity never returned to the levels of his early days as PM.
The low point came during the 2010 election campaign, when he was recorded referring to a voter he had just spoken to in Rochdale, Gillian Duffy, as a "bigoted woman". He later went to Mrs Duffy's house in Rochdale to apologise, saying he was "mortified".
After the 2010 general election, he stayed on as prime minister for five days during negotiations between the parties.After the 2010 general election, he stayed on as prime minister for five days during negotiations between the parties.
With the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats poised to form a coalition government, he resigned as prime minister and stepped down as Labour leader, saying the job had been "a privilege".With the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats poised to form a coalition government, he resigned as prime minister and stepped down as Labour leader, saying the job had been "a privilege".
He has kept a generally low profile after leaving office, making an intervention in a debate on the phone-hacking scandal and later entering the Scottish independence campaign.