Another Labour MP has announced they WON'T stand for re-election in June

Labour MP Iain Wright has announced that he won’t stand for re-election after Prime Minister Theresa May called a general election.

Mr Wright, who has been the MP for Hartlepool since 2004, announced his decision this morning – and described his time in Parliament as an ‘enormous privilege.’

In a statement, he said: ‘I do not intend to stand again to become Member of Parliament for Hartlepool. It has been an enormous privilege to serve my home town in Parliament.

‘I have now been an MP for nearly a third of my life. I would like to thank my constituents for giving me the honour of allowing me their Member of Parliament since 2004.’

Mr Wright’s decision is a fresh blow to the beleaguered ranks of the Labour party, and comes only a day after two MPs announced that they would not seek re-election.

Only hours after Theresa May called a general election for June 8, Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Tom Blenkinsop announced that he would not stand again, and said he could not contest an election ‘in good faith’ while Jeremy Corbyn remained leader.

He was joined by former Home Secretary Alan Johnson, who announced his decision to step down from his Hull West and Wessle Seat.

He said in a statement: ‘As far as the constituency and the Party are concerned, no MP wants to put them through the anguish of a mid-term by-election, so for me the personal decision is whether to retire now or in 2022 when I’ll be into my 70s.

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‘I’ve decided that going now will give me the opportunity to do other things with my life and is therefore in the best interests of me and my family. I also think it’s best for the Party.’