Ennis steps down for 'personal reasons' after 30 years

The Barnsley East and Mexborough MP said he was stepping down for personal reasons after 30 years representing the area, first as a councillor and then at Westminster.

He said it had been a "real pleasure and privilege" to serve but it was time to let someone else take over, although he added that it had been a "very difficult decision" to take.

Mr Ennis, who has been working as the unpaid deputy to Regional Minister Rosie Winterton, has championed the cause of brass bands and has recently been campaigning for new laws on mobility scooters after a two-year-old constituent was knocked down by one.

He said: "This year marks my 30th year as an elected Labour representative at both local and national level. It's time to step aside and give someone else a chance.

"The thing that shall I miss most is taking up issues in Parliament for my local constituents. I'm very lucky to have represented some of the most genuine and sincere people in the country. It has been a real pleasure and a privilege to serve them."

Ms Winterton said: "Jeff has been an outstanding member of parliament, a real man of the people who has always fought for both Barnsley and Doncaster in parliament. He's highly respected in parliament and in Yorkshire."

Don Valley MP Caroline Flint also said she would be "very sad" to see Mr Ennis go, saying he was a "first-rate MP" who had put his constituency first.

Insiders expect Barnsley Council leader Steve Houghton to be a frontrunner for the safe Labour seat – won with a majority of 14,125 in 2005.

With the General Election likely to be less than three months away, Labour's NEC has a much stronger say in deciding who should be shortlisted as candidates for seats, raising fears they may attempt to impose an all-women shortlist which influential local figures have made clear they will oppose.

The party hierarchy has also been warned off any attempt to parachute in an outsider after the controversy surrounding the recent selection of 28-year-old Londoner Luciana Berger as candidate for Liverpool Wavertree.

Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson has vowed to stand against her after she could not answer who Bill Shankly is or who performed Ferry Across the Mersey.

BALLOT FOR SEATS AT BROWN'S IRAQ DAY

Audience seats for Gordon Brown's appearance before the Iraq Inquiry in London will be allocated by public ballot, it was announced yesterday.

Mr Brown will be questioned about his role in the planning and conduct of the war both as Chancellor and as Prime Minister when he gives evidence early next month.

Places at the session will be awarded by ballot because of expected high demand, officials said. Seats will also be available in an overspill room.