ALAN Milburn, the former Cabinet minister once backed as Tony Blair's natural successor, is to quit politics at the next general election.
The former health minister, criticised for taking on five consultancy jobs since resigning from the Cabinet, made his announcement yesterday just 48 hours before all MPs must disclose how much they are paid for outside jobs and how many hours they sp
end on them.
In a statement yesterday, the Darlington MP said:
"I left frontline ministerial politics, and have not wished to return, because I wanted to have a different way of life. I have never regretted doing so. At the next election I will be in my early fifties. Standing down as an MP will give me the chance to balance my work and my family life, with the time to pursue challenges other than politics."
The move marks the departure of another of Gordon Brown's key Cabinet rivals. Backed by Blairites, Milburn was tipped to challenge Brown for the leadership of the party when Blair resigned, but he stepped back from frontline politics in 2006.
He added: "I decided to make this announcement now, before the summer, so that Darlington Labour Party has ample time to choose a new candidate for the next election."
A spokesman for Brown said: "Alan Milburn telephoned the Prime Minister this morning to tell him he intends to stand down at the next general election. Gordon thanked Alan for his many years' service to the country and the Labour Party, and wished him well for the future.
"The government will soon publish his report on access to the professions, which the Prime Minister commissioned him to write."
Milburn was not the only MP to declare he was quitting politics yesterday. Conservative MP David Maclean who led the battle against the disclosure of MPs' expenses, is also to stand down from Westminster.
The former Tory chief whip, who has multiple sclerosis, said he could no longer carry out his job at "full pelt".
