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John Battle MP (Labour, Leeds West) announced to his local West Leeds Labour Party last night (Friday 20 October) that he will be stepping down from standing as a candidate at the next election.

He said: “Now is the time for reselection decisions. By this time next year I will have served as the MP for Leeds West for over 20 years and I have made the personal decision to invite the Party to select a fresh voice for Labour in Leeds West, to reinvigorate Leeds West as a popular campaigning local constituency – bringing new ideas and inspiration to our organisation and representation at all levels to make West Leeds better for all who live here.

“For me personally I feel it will be a time to turn over a new page after the General Election. Though I am far from clear about what work and employment I will take up until I reach the age of retirement I can reassure everyone I will be continuing to work and campaign locally and supporting the Labour Party wholeheartedly.

“I want to thank all Party members in West Leeds for their personal encouragement and support. It has been a privilege to work with such a hard-working team, championing change and improvement for all the people of West Leeds.

“To my constituents a sincere thank you for the privilege of representing you – I’m not going just yet and for the rest of this Parliament I intend to intensify my campaigning on housing and eradicating poverty at home and abroad. Of course I will continue to be very active in the constituency and as ever available at my regular surgeries.”

John Battle was born in 1951 and was a Labour Councillor in Leeds from 1980-1987, where he chaired the Industry and then the Housing Committee. In 1983 he became the first National Co-ordinator of Church Action on Poverty.

In 1987 he was elected MP for Leeds West, winning he seat from the sitting Liberal MP against the national trend with the greatest swing to Labour in that General Election.

He was Shadow Energy spokesman from 1995-97. Prior to that, he was a member of the Environment Select Committee 1991-92. Employment, Housing and Poverty have always been at the centre of John's political concerns and in 1992 the late John Smith appointed him to be Labour's front bench spokesperson on Housing.

John was appointed as a Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry following Labour’s 1997 election victory, and was responsible for Energy, Science and Industry publishing a green paper on energy promoting renewable and sustainable sources. In the EU as chair of the Science Ministers committee he secured a new enhanced science budget and got an increased Science budget in the UK.

From July 1999 to the 2001 General Election John was a Minister of State at the Foreign Office, with responsibility for South East Asia, China, Korea, Australia and Latin America. His first challenge was to work through the United Nations to bring peace in East Timor. He also took the International Criminal Court legislation through the House of Commons which let the UK sign up to the ICC in the face of opposition the week before the election in 2001.

In June 2001, John was asked by the Prime Minister to be his envoy visiting faith communities on inter-faith matters. He works to help encourage and intensify the dialogue between different faith communities in the UK. In 2002, John became a Privy Councillor.

John has always taken an active interest in housing matters and poverty nationally – and also currently serves on the International Development Select Committee.

He lives in the heart of his West Leeds constituency.