MP Mitchell Announces Retirement On YouTube

The veteran Labour MP Austin Mitchell has announced his plans to step down in an eight-minute YouTube video titled "so long, it's good knowing you".

In the footage the 79-year-old tours areas of the House of Commons before saying he is getting old and that "it's time to go".

Mr Mitchell, who has been MP for Great Grimsby for 37 years, said: "The fact is I'm getting old. I shall be 80 this year, that's a bit old to carry on doing this job. It's time, I think, to hand over to somebody else.

"A new MP can bring new energy and new ideas and a new drive to the job, which is why I'm making this announcement now. What I intend to do is retire in 400 days or so in May 2015, when this Parliament comes to an end and then hand over to somebody else, to a new MP, who I hope, of course, will be a Labour MP, because that's what Grimsby needs.

"I shall regret going, it's a sad occasion; it's been a wonderful party, a wonderful town to represent and I've been doing my best and having a wonderful time doing it. But it's time to go and I've got to recognise that fact."

Mr Mitchell, who sits on the public accounts committee, was elected in 1977 at a by-election after the death of the Foreign Secretary Tony Crosland.